On Episode 123 of Outside The Studio with Tessa Tovar: In this conversation, Tessa interviews Amanda Kuda about her journey to sobriety and the impact it has had on her life. Amanda shares her experience of being a social drinker and how she realized that alcohol was holding her back. She discusses the fear and stigma around sobriety and emphasizes that alcohol doesn't have to be a problem for it to be a problem in your life. Amanda also talks about her book, 'Unbottled Potential,' and the process of writing and publishing it. The conversation concludes with a discussion on finding alternatives to the evening routine of drinking. In this conversation, Amanda Kuda discusses her reading habits, book recommendations, and her journey as an author. She emphasizes the importance of reading fiction before bed to wind down the mind. Amanda recommends the books Night Circus and This Tender Land as must-reads. She also shares her love for writing and the power of books in connecting with others. Amanda expresses her excitement for future writing projects and the opportunities that being an author brings. Some good reasons to listen in: 1. Alcohol doesn't have to be a problem for it to be a problem in your life. 2. Sobriety can have a positive impact on all aspects of life, including relationships, career, personal development, and spirituality. 3. Writing and publishing a book can be a transformative and empowering process. 4. Replacing the evening routine of drinking with alternative activities can help overcome the fear and discomfort of sobriety. Reading fiction before bed can help wind down the mind and promote better sleep. 5. Recommended books: Night Circus and This Tender Land. 6. Books have the power to connect people and evoke emotions. 7. Exploring curiosities, such as sobriety, can lead to personal growth and self-discovery. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:45 Amanda's Journey to Sobriety 06:36 The Impact of Sobriety on Life 14:02 Exploring Sobriety and its Effects 18:02 You're Not the Problem 22:32 Writing and Publishing the Book 29:21 Overcoming Fear 35:56 Replacing the Evening Routine 40:29 Fiction After Five 41:03 Reading Fiction Before Bed 42:24 Book Recommendations: Night Circus and This Tender Land 43:45 The Joy of Reading and Writing 44:06 Future Plans as an Author 45:40 Connecting on Social Media 46:06 Blogging and Podcasting 46:27 Final Takeaways Connect with Amanda Kuda: • Book: https://www.amandakuda.com/book/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandakuda/ • Website https://www.amandakuda.com/ • Dry January Challenge: https://amandakuda.podia.com/2024-unbottled-potential-challenge Connect with Tessa Tovar Website: https://tessatovar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessamarietovar/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa-tovar-baa27613 Twitter: https://twitter.com/TBenedicktus The Dark Moon: A Book of Poetry for Savasana https://a.co/d/1pELtfn FREE YOGA CLASSES with me on YouTube Outside the Studio https://www.youtube.com/@tessatovar/featured