This Side of Alcohol: A Conversation on Shame and Sobriety with Peggi Cooney
May 12, 2025
When I first picked up This Side of Alcohol by Peggi Cooney, I had no idea how deeply it would resonate. I read it during my first alcohol-free vacation, sitting on a beach in Turks and Caicos, and I felt like Peggi was speaking directly to me. Her words gave language to thoughts and feelings I hadn’t yet figured out how to articulate. It was funny, raw, relatable, and honest in a way only someone who’s been there could write.
That’s why I knew I had to invite Peggi onto Sober Fit Life. Our conversation was everything I hoped it would be: honest, insightful, and filled with moments of laughter and reflection.
Peggi shared her journey from being a social worker carrying the weight of secondary trauma, to quietly drinking more and more, to hiding bottles in her boots. She described the cognitive dissonance she felt, working with families affected by addiction while battling her own growing dependence on alcohol. Like so many of us, she heard the well-meaning reassurances: "You have such a hard job, it’s okay you need to unwind." Until one day, it wasn’t okay anymore.
The turning point came when her daughter sat her down and said, "Mom, if you don’t do something about your drinking, I can’t have the relationship you want with me, Jason, and the kids." That was it. Peggi decided to quit for her daughter, but in time, realized she was quitting for herself, too.
We talked about the shame spiral that keeps so many of us stuck. How we try to laugh off the embarrassing, messy moments- but deep down, we’re haunted by them. Peggi described blackouts, grayouts, and the exhausting web of lies that addiction weaves. She spoke of the heartbreak of watching others struggle with addiction, including her first client as a social worker, and how humbling it was to realize no one is immune.
And then, we explored the beauty on the other side of alcohol: rediscovering the joy of reading physical books, reconnecting with ourselves, finding calm in the absence of chaos. Peggi talked about how chaos itself can feel addictive, especially if you grew up in instability. We joked about needing a support group for Amazon book orders-but beneath the laughter was a shared truth: every book, every story, every conversation brings us closer to healing.
I love how Peggi uses her lived experience to help others. Through her work with Zero Proof Experiences, she helps create alcohol-free retreats and biweekly "I’m Alcohol-Free, Now What?" support meetings. She’s living her sobriety out loud, showing others that recovery isn’t just possible, it’s worth it.
One of my favorite things Peggi said is how important it is to slow down in early sobriety. We can get so hung up on "fixing" everything quickly, but this process takes time. As she put it, some days the best thing you can do is just go to bed sober. And that’s enough.
If you’re looking for encouragement, validation, or simply to feel less alone in your journey, I can’t recommend Peggi’s book and story enough.
Learn more and connect with Peggi:
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📖 This Side of Alcohol by Peggi Cooney: Amazon link
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📸 Follow Peggi on Instagram: @thissideofalcohol
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🌐 Learn more about Zero Proof Experiences: zeroproofexperiences.com
This conversation reminded me why I’m so passionate about sharing these stories: because they remind us we’re not alone, and there’s so much joy waiting for us on the other side.
Listed to the episode here 🎧
Stay curious. Stay compassionate. Stay sober fit.
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