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Today is August 16, 2026, and I haven't drank alcohol since June 22, 2025. Written on March 28, 2026 - 2 months before my one year alcohol free I was finally able to stop drinking when I stopped making myself decide if I was drinking or not. Something clicked in June of last year. My therapist and I were discussing the reasons why I don’t want to drink. “What’s your dream scenario?” “Everyone thinks I’m drinking but I’m actually not.” “So the only thing that’s stopping you from not drinking anymore, is how other people would feel about you not drinking?” It went something like that. I find this topic extremely hard to put into words. And I find the concepts I’m exploring in therapy (people pleasing) also really hard to put into words. I think it’s because I haven’t fully grasped any of it yet. I haven’t drank for 10 months and I still don’t feel like I can make some announcement saying I don’t drink. That’s a sentence I’ve only said a few times but am starting to find more familiarity with: “I don’t drink.” End of sentence. No explanation. No rationalization. This whole not drinking thing isn’t new for me though. I spent 5 years struggling with alcohol. Struggling to understand why I would drink to the point of throwing up, at least once a month. Then once a month became only once every few months. Then it wasn’t me throwing up, but it was somehow still too much. Having the worst hangxiety where I couldn’t stop crying. Getting into a fight with my boyfriend about nothing. These instances all started to add up. Stacking against alcohol again and again. Until one Sunday afternoon when Josh and I had gone for a walk to take a break from a family thing, we sat at an outdoor patio. I contemplated Pina colada with rum or without. I went for with. Maybe it was in that moment or maybe it was later that I thought, “why the f**k did I say with??” My mood changed immediately after that drink, I felt slumpy, low energy, down. All the b******t it does to you. This was my last drink. What I came to learn that shifted things: 1) I obviously didn’t want to drink. Period. 2) I was scared of what people would think if I stopped. 3) If I kept leaving the decision till the moment the alcohol is in front of my face, I’ll never win. At some point after that one Pina colada I said to myself, “That’s it. For an entire year I’m not drinking. Just see if you can do it. Don’t tell anyone about it, just see if you can.” It started as a secret promise with myself. Every time alcohol presented itself I knew I had this secret to keep so I said no. And each time it stopped being a “Hmmm should I??? Shouldn’t I??” It became a full stop no and I let myself not over explain it all. Eventually I started sharing this promise but it took a long time. First with Josh, at a bonfire on a camping trip just the two of us. I’ve been the most honest with him about it all. I said the real truth, that I think booze is a serious problem for me. Words I don’t say out loud very openly. Then I slowly got the courage to tell my family and then eventually my friends. But not in that same way I phrased it. Not drinking is starting to become more normal for me. It’s still hard sometimes and I get random cravings out of nowhere that I have to ride out. Being unapologetic about not drinking is so refreshing to see, but it’s not quite me yet. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish at a party everyone thought I was drinking. I want to still be part of the energy without this shit going in my body. And thats okay. I’m not the poster girl for living alcohol free. But I wanted to share where I’ve been so far. Almost at 12 months! Submit a question for the podcast!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Socials: @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

I'm sad to say we are taking a little pod break for the summer so I can dial in on the book edit! Before I leave you, I'll answer the question I've been getting a lot lately - how do you show up so consistenly on social media? Submit a question for the podcast!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Socials: @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

VIDEO VERSION available to view on Spotify!!! Come with me on the chaos of moving week. Submit a question for the podcast!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Socials: @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nothing says “new beginnings” like throwing up during your move. In this episode I’m unpacking the absolute circus that was my moving week, the health scares that came with it, and answering all your moving questions along the way. Submit a question for the podcast!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Socials: @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

In this episode, I’m sharing what happens when you push a little too hard… and your body (literally) forces you to slow down. From riding the highs of productivity to crashing straight into burnout—and somehow throwing my back out in the process—this one is a real-time reflection on hitting my limits. Because as much as we love a “get it done” era, there’s a point where it stops being empowering and starts costing you. We’re talking about the chaos of “bad things come in threes,” the emotional and physical toll of doing the most, and the humbling reminder that you can’t outwork your nervous system. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, stuck in a go-go-go cycle, or learning (the hard way) how to listen to your body… this one’s for you. Plus, I’m sharing how I’m actually recovering—mentally, physically, and energetically—and what I’m taking with me moving forward. Submit a question for the podcast!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Socials: @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

In this episode, I’m sharing my real-life approach to staying grounded and intentional during a busy season of life. From prioritizing what actually matters to letting go of what doesn’t, I walk you through how I decide what gets my energy—and what gets put on the backburner. Submit a question for the podcast!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Socials: @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

Last episode I left you on a bit of a cliffhanger… and today we’re getting into it. I’m sharing the big move that’s coming up, how we knew it was the right time, and what it looked like to actually tune inward during a really hard season. ⁠Submit a question for the podcast!⁠⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Socials: @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

In this Q&A episode, we talk mouth tape (my "why"), what it means to be spiritual without being religious, where that awkward/shamey feeling comes from, and how to start owning this side of yourself unapologetically. ⁠Submit a question for the podcast!⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

Period talk you didn't get in health class... welcome back to the TMI vibes! This Q&A episodes gets into the difficult journey of finding the right period products for you. Submit a question for the podcast!⁠⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

My grandma passed away the day before my 25th birthday, and this episode is a reflection of the emotional whirlwind of the past week. I talk about grief, trusting the universe’s timing, and what it’s like to hold both joy and grief at the same time. Plus, some therapy realizations and unexpected lessons from living with my boyfriend. Submit a question for the podcast!⁠ LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

On my ever work trip to Atlanta, I stepped into the world’s largest sauna to kick off the Runningman festival. What started as a nerve-wracking experience quickly turned into a powerful reminder that I’m capable of so much more than I give myself credit for. In this episode, I share the lessons, surprises, and inspiration this trip sparked around travel, entrepreneurship, and trusting yourself to take big leaps. Submit a question for the podcast! LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

Coffee chat catch-up vibes! When to bring your bf to family functions, my recent vegetable obsessions, and HEATED RIVALRY!!! LINKS: ⁠⁠⁠➡️ @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

If you daydream about throwing your iPhone away and getting a flip phone, this one’s for you. I share the real tea on trying to switch to a flip phone — why I failed, and how my boyfriend is still going strong with his. Plus, I’m getting honest about my winter mental health: the breakdowns I’ve been having, what they’re teaching me, and the small but powerful ways I’ve been supporting myself through it. LINKS: ⁠⁠➡️ @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

I’m sharing the full behind-the-scenes of writing the first draft of my book, including the plot, storyline, and setting reveal!! From being the kid who lowkey loved writing to how deciding to finally do this!! LINKS: ⁠➡️ @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland

Dipping our toe back into the podcast eee! This is an unfiltered recap of where I left you last—right before my laser eye surgery. I share what the surgery actually felt like, the recovery, and all the weird things no one tells you going into it! LINKS: ➡️ @withjessicajane :)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠➡️ Othership Classes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Code: "JESSICAJANEMCDONALD") ⁠Produced by Jessica Jane⁠ ⁠Audio Post-Production by Ben Rowland