Love Life Sober – Details, episodes & analysis

Real freedom doesn’t come from willpower, labels, or trying harder—it starts with Jesus. In this episode of Love Life Sober, Christy Osborne is joined by pastor and author John Elmore to talk about addiction, confession, and what it actually looks like to walk in freedom through the Spirit.

John shares his powerful story of addiction, the moment everything came crashing down, and why confession and community are essential—not optional—when it comes to healing. Together, they explore what it means to walk by the Spirit in everyday life, how to respond when it feels like God isn’t answering your prayers, and why locking the doors on temptation matters if you want lasting change.

If you’ve been trying to “white knuckle” your way to freedom or feel stuck in cycles you can’t break, this conversation will remind you that freedom is available—and it starts today.

If You’ve Ever Thought…

“I’ve asked God to take this away, but I’m still struggling.”
“I’m too ashamed to talk about this in church.”

Babe, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode

• Why alcohol often becomes a false solution to pain and stress—and how Jesus offers something far better
• What Galatians 5:16 really means and how walking by the Spirit works in everyday life
• Why confession is essential for healing and how shame keeps women trapped in secrecy
• How your identity shapes your behavior and why you are a saint who sins, not a sinner trying to become holy
• Why willpower isn’t enough and how daily dependence on God creates lasting freedom
• How “one day at a time” mirrors God’s design for daily bread and sustainable change
• What idols actually are, how alcohol quietly becomes one, and why surrender leads to real joy and peace

💌 Links & Resources

📖 John’s book: Freedom Starts Today
https://amzn.to/3Z50d9f

🌿 Join the Love Life Sober Community
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community

📖 Order Christy’s book, Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book

📖 Learn more about the Tyndale Life Recovery Bible
https://hubs.la/Q041HjWm0

Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy

Subscribe on YouTube — Come hang with us!

Please note: This episode includes a brief mention of suicidal thoughts. 

Disclaimer

The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of Love Life Sober, Christy shares a powerful testimony about stopping drinking and finding freedom from alcohol through faith. Shantel Chandler shares her journey from struggling with alcohol to living alcohol-free, and how God used conviction, community, and surrender to break a drinking stronghold.

Just 15 months ago, Shantel was at the very beginning of her journey—listening to the podcast, reading Christy’s book, and wondering if freedom could actually be real for her. Today, she’s living alcohol-free and sharing what changed as a Fast Captain, apart of the Love Life Sober community.

Shantel opens up about how alcohol first entered her life as a confidence boost in high school, how it became a coping mechanism through heartbreak and loneliness, and how it eventually turned into a stronghold during some of the hardest seasons of her life—including motherhood, moving, stress, and navigating her child’s Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

But this story is also about the slow and steady way God pursued her—through a sister’s gentle comment, through sermons she couldn’t forget, through discipleship that felt like grace instead of condemnation, and finally through the moment she woke up and prayed, “Okay God, I’m done… but I don’t know how.”

If you’ve ever felt the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart and you’re not quite sure what to do with it, this conversation will feel incredibly familiar.

If you’ve ever thought…

“I don’t know where I fit.”
“I’m keeping this secret.”
“I love Jesus… but I can’t stop.”
“This has a grip on me.”

This episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn

• How Shantel’s drinking began as a way to feel confident and fit in
• How heartbreak and divorce shifted alcohol from “fun” to coping
• What it was like becoming a single mom, rediscovering faith, and still living in a drinking cycle
• Why major stress can deepen alcohol’s grip—including moving, isolation, and parenting through medical challenges like Type 1 Diabetes
• The tension of wanting Christian community while still hiding struggles
• What conviction felt like for Shantel and how God used sermons and conversations to pierce her heart
• The difference between white-knuckling a fast and surrendering a stronghold
• How community support helped her stop hiding and begin healing

Links & Resources

Join the Love Life Sober Community
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community

Join the Lent 40-Day Alcohol Fast
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/the-fast

Order Christy’s Book
Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book

Connect on Instagram
@lovelifesoberwithchristy

Subscribe on YouTube — Come hang with us!

Disclaimer

The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Should Christians drink alcohol? In this episode of Love Life Sober, author Ericka Andersen explores faith-based sobriety, the gray-area drinking struggle, and what freedom from alcohol can look like for Christian women who love Jesus but feel stuck.

Christy Osborne is joined by Ericka Andersen, author of Freely Sober, for an honest, hope-filled conversation about freedom from alcohol for Christian women seeking support that is both practical and rooted in Christ.

Together, they discuss the “gray area” a space many women live in, the long internal struggle that often comes before real change, and why a slow or nonlinear timeline does not mean failure. Ericka brings compassion, biblical context, and practical wisdom to the question many Christian women quietly ask: Should Christians even drink alcohol?

This conversation offers clarity, permission, and hope for women who aren’t “rock bottom,” but know alcohol is taking up more space than they want it to.

If You’ve Ever Thought…

• “I love Jesus, but I keep going back to wine.”
• “I’m not falling apart… but I’m stuck.”
• “I wish there was something for women like me.”

Babe, this episode is for you!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What it looks like when alcohol becomes not an addiction, but a distraction
• Why the journey toward freedom can take years—and how that time isn’t wasted in God’s hands
• How to hold the process lighter after a “failed” Dry January and keep moving forward
• Why cravings feel like they’ll last forever—and simple tools to ride them out
• Why “buzzed” matters more than we want to admit, especially around our kids
• The big question: should Christians even drink alcohol, and what Scripture actually shows
• Why modern alcohol is not the same as biblical wine—and why context matters

Links & Resources

Order Ericka’s book, Freely Sober: 

https://amzn.to/49l5mQm

Join the Lent 40-Day Alcohol Fast

https://lovelifesober.co.uk/the-fast

Join the Love Life Sober Community

https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community

Order Christy’s book, Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind

Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy

You can find more resources at Lovelifesober.com

Disclaimer:
The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests.

Love Life Sober is part of the Lifeaudio Podcast Network: A Christian network where every podcast is rooted in biblical truth, offering guidance, encouragement and inspiration for everyday life. You can find more faith centered podcasts at Lifeaudio.com | Faith On Demand

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Love Life Sober is a Christian podcast for women questioning their relationship with alcohol and sensing God might have more for them beyond the wine glass.

Have you felt that nudge from God to put down the wine glass, but the thought of relaxing, having fun, or even coping with life feels impossible without it? Are you waking up each morning vowing not to drink tonight, only to find that by five p.m., all bets are off?

Hosted by Christian sobriety coach and author Christy Osborne, author of Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind, this podcast blends Scripture, neuroscience, and practical coaching to help you understand what’s happening in your brain, your nervous system, and your heart, and how lasting freedom from alcohol is actually possible.

You’ll hear expert conversations and powerful testimonies for women exploring Christian sobriety, faith-based recovery, mindful drinking, and alcohol-free living. Each episode gently invites you to step away from wine and toward deeper connection with God, without shame, pressure, or the need to decide forever.

At the heart of Love Life Sober is a simple truth. Love, joy, peace, and connection were never meant to be found in a wine bottle. They are found in Jesus.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Christy is joined by Dr. Lee Warren, neurosurgeon, author, and one of the most grounded voices on faith, suffering, and the way God designed our brains to heal. They discuss his powerful book The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery and how his “Ten Commandments” for mental and emotional health can help people break free from alcohol, stop believing every thought they think, and rebuild a life they actually want to live.

Dr. Lee also shares the tender story of how grief reshaped his purpose after losing his son Mitch, and why your pain matters—even if someone else’s pain looks “worse.”

If you’ve ever thought…

“My trauma is too big… nothing can help me.”
“My feelings feel true, so they must be true.”
“One drink means I’ve ruined everything.”

This conversation offers hope, practical tools, and a reminder that changing your thinking can truly change your life.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why your pain is valid and why comparing trauma keeps you stuck
• How your brain can heal through Neuroplasticity (and why you’re not “stuck” with the brain you have)
• Why feelings aren’t facts and how to practice curiosity instead of reacting
• What Dr. Lee calls the “tomorrow tax” and why “no anesthesia allowed” changes everything
• Whether the effects of alcohol on the brain can improve over time in recovery
• What happens when you slip—and how to learn instead of spiral when building new pathways

💌 Links & Resources

Dr. Lee’s Book:
The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery
Connecting Neuroscience and Faith to Radically Transform Your Life
https://amzn.to/40EZs7i

Join the Love Life Sober Community
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community

Order Christy’s Book
Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book

Learn more about the Life Recovery Bible by visiting:
https://hubs.la/Q041HjWm0

Connect on Instagram:
@lovelifesoberwithchristy

Subscribe on YouTube — Come hang with us!

Disclaimer

The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice, nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

During "International Women’s Day" week, this is a powerful reminder that God has always been in the business of empowering women, redeeming messy stories, and calling ordinary people into extraordinary courage. Christy is joined by her dear friend Laura L. Smith, author of Brave Woman, Mighty God, for a conversation that feels like a deep exhale and a holy pep talk all at once.

Laura shares why Mary Magdalene is her favorite woman in the Bible right now, how God consistently chooses the overlooked, and why your past doesn’t disqualify you from purpose.

If you’ve been feeling, “Not me… I’m too far gone,” Laura brings it home with the story of Gomer in the book of Book of Hosea and the relentless love of God that keeps coming back for us again and again.

And if you’re exhausted from waiting, she offers the most grounding encouragement: God gives us daily bread, not next year’s feast… and He will meet you today, right where you are.

You’ll also hear a powerful moment unpacking “Talitha Koum” (little girl, get up) from the Gospel of Mark — and the truth that Jesus is not too busy, you’re not a waste of His time, and your story isn’t over.

If you’ve ever thought…

• “I’m too far gone for God to use me.”
• “I’ve tried a million times… I’ll probably just fail again.”
• “Why does it feel like everyone else is ahead of me?”

You’re going to feel seen in this one, babe 🩷

What You’ll Learn In This Episode

• Why Mary Magdalene is proof that Jesus doesn’t choose the “qualified,” He qualifies the chosen

• The story of Gomer and what it reveals about God’s relentless, pursuing love

• How to keep going when you’re tired of waiting and God feels quiet

• Why comparison is a trap, and how the story of Mary and Martha sets you free

• A truth to anchor you when you’re afraid the past will repeat itself

Links & Resources

Get Laura’s book, Brave Woman, Mighty God (limited-time Kindle offer)

Join the Love Life Sober Community
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community

Learn more about the Tyndale Life Recovery Bible
https://hubs.la/Q041HjWm0

Order Christy’s book, Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book

Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy
Subscribe on YouTube — Come hang with us!

Disclaimer

The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Childless not by choice carries a grief many women silently numb with alcohol. In this episode of Love Life Sober, Maureen Benkovich shares how infertility, miscarriage, and a failed adoption fueled years of binge drinking—and how surrendering to God led to lasting freedom.

Christy sits down with Maureen Benkovich, Alcohol Freedom Coach, author, speaker, and host of the Sober Fit Life podcast, for a powerful conversation about infertility grief, childlessness not by choice, and the hidden pain only God could heal.

A former fitness professional who outwardly embodied discipline and success, Maureen shares how miscarriage, infertility, and a failed adoption quietly shaped her identity and fueled years of binge drinking, depression, and the exhausting detox-to-retox cycle. She opens up about the “untangible” grief of not becoming a mother, the party-girl persona she used to survive, and the moment she stopped asking God for moderation and instead surrendered completely.

This episode is for the woman who feels stuck, unseen, and tired of numbing her sorrow with wine. There is a way out—and it begins with laying it down.

If You’ve Ever Thought…

• “Why would God let this happen to me?”

• “I don’t know who I am if I’m not a mom.”

• “Alcohol is the only thing that helps me get through the sadness.”

This episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How infertility grief and a failed adoption quietly escalated Maureen’s drinking over time

• Why alcohol can trap you in rumination, depression, and emotional stuckness

• The detox-to-retox cycle and how it keeps you feeling “fine”… until you’re not

• What it looks like to rebuild identity when motherhood doesn’t happen

• Why moderation wasn’t the answer—and what finally changed everything

• How faith, community, and renewing your mind create new pathways forward

• Practical encouragement for women who are childless not by choice and feeling alone

Links & Resources

Maureen’s website:
soberfitchick.com

🌟 Join the Love Life Sober Community
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community

🌿 Join the Lent 40-Day Alcohol Fast
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/the-fast

📖 Order Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book

Learn more about the Tyndale Life Recovery Bible:
https://hubs.la/Q041HjWm0

Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy
Subscribe on YouTube — Come hang with us! 

Disclaimer

The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and do not provide medical, psychological, or professional advice. Content is not intended to substitute professional care. Views expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team. Content Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this special episode of Love Life Sober, Christy is joined by the incredible women who help lead the Love Life Sober community—our Fast Captains and coaches. These are the women cheering you on, praying for you by name, and walking alongside you as you take courageous steps toward alcohol-free freedom.

As we prepare for the upcoming Lent 40-Day Alcohol Fast, this conversation gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the heart of the community and the women who make it such a safe, faith-filled place to land. You’ll hear their stories, their why, and the powerful ways they’ve seen God move when women choose to lay alcohol down and draw closer to Him.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes this Christian alcohol-free community different—or you’ve been hovering over the “join” button feeling equal parts curious and terrified—this episode is your invitation.

If You’ve Ever Thought…

“I don’t know if I’m ready for something like this.”
“What if I fail again?”
“Do I really belong in a community like that?”

Babe, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn In This Episode

• Why a Christ-centered community creates lasting freedom
• What makes the Love Life Sober fasts different from other alcohol-free spaces
• Why fear is often the very thing keeping you from the freedom you want
• The truth about “starting again” and why nothing is ever wasted in God’s hands
• The beauty and power of joining a fast during the Lent season
• Why taking a break from alcohol is less about restriction and more about discovering who God created you to be

Links & Resources

🌿 Join the Lent 40-Day Alcohol Fast
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/the-fast

📖 Order Christy’s book, Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book

📖 Learn more about the Tyndale Life Recovery Bible
https://hubs.la/Q041HjWm0

Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy

Subscribe on YouTube — Come hang with us!

Disclaimer

The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Feeling spiritually behind, overwhelmed, or exhausted in your faith journey? In this episode of Love Life Sober, Christy Osborne is joined by her friend, author, coach, and faith leader Em Tyler to explore why “beginning again” isn’t failure — it’s the rhythm of real discipleship.

If you’re feeling behind (in your Bible reading, your habits, your healing, your sobriety journey, your life)… Em gives you permission to breathe. Together, they talk about why beginning again isn’t embarrassing, why feeling “behind” doesn’t disqualify you, and how God meets us with grace, not urgency. :There’s no rush.

Em Tyler, a twice-certified coach, international speaker, author, podcaster, and all-round faith cheerleader. She is the Founder of the Established Conference and encourages over 7,000 believers each week through her Substack, Grow + Go Believers — a space for faith and growth without burnout or striving. 

If You’ve Ever Thought…

“I’m trying, but I can’t keep up.”
“I love Jesus, but I feel overwhelmed.”

Babe, this one is for you. 🩷

📘 What You’ll Learn In This Episode

• Why “beginning again” is not embarrassing — it’s biblical discipleship

• The difference between rushing through Scripture and actually meeting with Jesus

• The Holy Spirit’s gentle invitation to slow down and savor

• Why you’re not “behind” when your rhythm shifts — and how God still meets you there

• How to protect your peace in busy seasons by returning to Jesus again and again

Connect With Em Tyler:

Em Tyler’s Grow + Go Cohorts (waitlist + info): http://emtyler.com/cohorts

31 Days of Beginning Again: https://amzn.to/49XNcDu

Em’s Substack: Grow + Go Believers: emtyler.substack.com

Connect with Em on Instagram: @hellomtyler

Learn more about the Tyndale Life Recovery Bible by visiting: https://hubs.la/Q041HjWm0

Love Life Sober Resources:

🌟 Join the Love Life Sober Community
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/community

🌿 Join the Lent 40-Day Alcohol Fast
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/the-fast

📖 Order Christy’s book, Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
https://lovelifesober.co.uk/book

Connect on Instagram: @lovelifesoberwithchristy

Subscribe on YouTube — Come hang with us!

Disclaimer
The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Shame can quietly attach itself to your identity and keep you hiding from freedom, connection, and God. In this episode of Love Life Sober, Christy Osborne is joined by licensed psychotherapist Dr. Zoe Shaw, who unpacks complex shame, explains how it forms, and why it doesn’t simply disappear with understanding or good intentions.

Christy and Dr. Zoe explore the difference between guilt, simple shame, and complex shame, why many women internalize blame—even for things that happened to them—and how shame often shows up in faith and church spaces. They also discuss why shaming behavior never leads to heart change and what Scripture shows us instead.

If you’ve ever felt broken, disqualified, or afraid to be fully known, this conversation offers a compassionate, faith-centered path toward truth, healing, and freedom—without shame.

 IF YOU’VE EVER THOUGHT…

• “I’m not just struggling… I’m broken.”
• “If people really knew me, they wouldn’t love me.”
• “My story disqualifies me from being close to God.”

Babe, this episode is for you 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• The difference between guilt and shame—and why guilt can be healthy but shame never is
• What simple shame looks like and why it often dissolves with compassion and “me too” community
• What complex shame is and why it doesn’t disappear even when others understand your story
• Why many women blame themselves for things that happened to them—and how that keeps shame tangled
• How shame shows up in church spaces and why shaming behavior never leads to heart change
• What Scripture reveals about how Jesus brings healing without shame
• A gentle, practical first step for the woman who longs for freedom but feels afraid to be vulnerable

LINKS & RESOURCES

Dr. Zoe’s Book
Stronger in the Difficult Places: Heal Your Relationship with Yourself by Untangling Complex Shame

Follow Dr. Zoe on Instagram
@drzoeshaw

Join the Love Life Sober Community

Join the Lent 40-Day Alcohol Fast

Order Christy’s Book
Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind

Connect with Christy on Instagram
@lovelifesoberwithchristy

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The creators, hosts, and producers of the Love Life Sober podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological, or professional advice nor intend for the podcast or any Love Life Sober communication to substitute for such. Views and opinions expressed in any referenced or linked resources do not necessarily reflect those of the Love Life Sober team or guests.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.