Starting Over at 70: Finding Clarity and Peace Without Alcohol After Retirement | Jan's Naked Life | EP 884

This Naked Mind Podcast

Annie Grace

Education, Self-improvement

4.7 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 28 February 2026

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of divorce and loss of a loved one to cancer. Have you ever wondered why life changes can make old habits suddenly feel louder? Jan never imagined retirement would lead her here. She had done everything “right”—worked hard, raised her kids, showed up for everyone else. Alcohol had always felt manageable. Until it didn’t. When retirement, relocation, and COVID collided, Jan found herself drinking more to fill the long afternoons and quiet evenings. Drinking more after retirement felt normal at first, even expected. What she didn’t expect was how disconnected, anxious, and unlike herself she began to feel. In this warm, honest conversation with Coach Cole, Jan shares how she began questioning not just her drinking, but the lifelong pattern of putting herself last. Through This Naked Mind and The Path, she learned that nothing was wrong with her—and that alcohol had simply become a stand-in for rest, relief, and emotional safety. Coach Cole and Jan discuss: Growing up in a dysfunctional home with two alcohol dependent parents and learning to shut down emotionally Moving to Colorado during COVID and experiencing the perfect storm of retirement, isolation, and empty nest syndrome Drinking more after retirement and how it escalated from afternoon drinking to morning drinking The terrifying fall down the stairs that led to hospitalization and overwhelming shame Why AA meetings didn't feel like the right fit and how finding Annie's book changed everything Joining The Path in April 2024 and celebrating 20 months alcohol-free Navigating divorce after 35 years of marriage and her sister's death from cancer—all without alcohol Learning to put herself first after a lifetime of taking care of everyone else Starting over at nearly 70 and believing the best is yet to come And more topics… Episode links: nakedmindpath.com Related Episodes: Alcohol & Older Adults, What We Need To Know - Reader Question - E152 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-152-reader-question-alcohol-and-older-adults-2/ Alcohol Over 60 - Coaching Questions - E418 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-418-coaching-questions-with-scott-pinyard/ Alcohol Free at 83 - Barbara’s Naked Life - E307 - https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-307-naked-life-story-barbara/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious! Quince: Go to⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Quince.com/naked⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box + a free item for life at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hungryroot.com/mind⁠⁠⁠⁠ with code mind BetterHelp: BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off at ⁠⁠BetterHelp.com/nakedmind⁠⁠ Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Shopify.com/mind⁠⁠

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is sponsored by Better Help.
0:03.0	March is a moment to celebrate women and all that they carry.
0:09.0	At work, in relationships, in families, and in the countless roles they hold every single day.
0:15.0	I want to take a second to honor my mom.
0:18.0	She's someone who shows up for everyone, even when she's exhausted,
0:22.0	and her strength reminds me how much women quietly hold together. This month also invites us to
0:27.7	pause and reflect on the expectations placed on us, the pressure we feel and the way we care
0:33.2	for everyone else, sometimes before ourselves. Therapy can help create balance, support healthy
0:39.3	boundaries, and support overall well-being. It's a space to sort through what feels heavy and reconnect
0:45.4	with what matters most. BetterHelp connects you with quality therapists who are fully licensed
0:51.0	in the U.S. and follow a strict professional code of conduct. They also do
0:56.0	the matching work for you. You start with a short questionnaire to help identify your needs and
1:00.8	preferences. And with over 12 years of experience and an industry leading match fulfillment rate,
1:07.0	they usually get it right the first time. And if you're not happy with your match, you can switch to a different therapist at any time.
1:14.6	With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform
1:20.4	and has served more than 6 million people globally.
1:24.6	And it works.
1:25.7	Live sessions average a 4.9 out of 5 rating based on over 1.7 million client
1:32.9	reviews. Your emotional well-being matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy.
1:38.3	Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com slash naked mind. That's B-E-T-E-R-H-E-E-L-P dot com slash naked mind. You're listening to This Naked Mind with Annie Grace.
2:08.3	Hey, everybody. Welcome to This Naked Mind podcast. I am Cole Harvey and I am filling in for the
2:13.8	amazing Annie Grace. And today you get the privilege to hear a naked life story from Jan.
	...

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