Real Women LIVE
Welcome to Real Women LIVE (formerly Sober Living Stories), a podcast where women discover what's possible on the other side of silence. A show built on the belief that the stories we are most afraid to tell often become our greatest sources of strength, wild possibilities, and purpose.
Each week, host Jessica Stipanovic sits down with women who have lived through the moments that changed everything, from loss, addiction, betrayal, grief, reinvention, family hardship, recovery, and starting over. These are not surface-level conversations but honest accounts of what happened, what was learned, and what changed when these women found the courage to stop performing, start telling the truth out loud, and own every version of themselves.
Real Women LIVE evolved from Sober Living Stories, a podcast rooted in the power of personal transformation. While our foundation remains grounded in raw, honest stories of resilience and hope, the conversation has expanded to include topics that touch women worldwide.
Jessica Stipanovic knows this journey firsthand. Sharing her story publicly changed her life, opening doors and creating opportunities she never imagined possible. She has spent over a decade as a freelance writer, lived alcohol-free for more than 20 years, and walked beside hundreds of women as they rediscovered their strength through adversity. These experiences have shaped how she listens, the questions she asks, and the kinds of conversations she creates. The powerful truth when we own ours is that people don't love us less when they know our story; they love us more.
Today, she helps women discover what's possible on the other side of silence, one story at a time. Many guests go on to write books, build communities, launch podcasts, start businesses, and create meaningful impact from the very challenges they once tried to hide. As the founder of The Female Entrepreneur Organization, Jessica Stipanovic provides resources, education, and opportunities to help turn their experiences into purpose-driven platforms.
Share your story. Change your life.
New episodes each Tuesday.
Episodes
51 episodes
God Wrecked My Life - In the Best Possible Way
What happens when liquid courage becomes spiritual bondage? Crystal Cuellar's story illuminates the unexpected path from social drinking to spiritual awakening, revealing how faith became the foundation for her alcohol-free life.Crystal...
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Can You Really Rewire the Addicted Brain?
The complexity of addiction extends far beyond what most people understand. Join Jessica Stipanovic and Psychologist Faust Ruggiero, with over 35 years of clinical experience, as they bring profound insight into this challenging territory on th...
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From Bartender to Author: A Life Rebuilt
Wayne Kicklighter shares his 22-year journey of sobriety, from growing up with generational alcoholism to becoming a published author of a daily reflections book called "Peaceful Wisdom: Reflections on God, Life, and Recovery." His ...
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The Only Thing More Powerful Than a Mother's Love
What happens when a mother's fierce love for her children collides with the unrelenting grip of alcoholism? In this raw and moving conversation, Jenny breaks her silence to share a 16-year journey of motherhood in recovery that will resonate wi...
From School Shooting Survivor to Healing Advocate: Melissa's Message
Surviving a school shooting and witnessing the tragic loss of her brother could have defined her path, but instead, these challenges fueled her passion for nursing and healing. Melissa Armstrong's story is nothing short of inspiring. She ...
Trading Happy Hours for Sunsets: Health Coach Danette's Life Re-Imagined
Picture this: leaving behind the confines of a corporate cubicle and trading it for the open road, a van, and a trusty canine companion. That's exactly what Danette Deichmann did, and her story is inspiring. In our latest episode of Sober Livin...
She Had a Successful Career—Then Addiction Left Her Homeless
How does a successful fashion designer find herself in the throes of addiction, battling homelessness, and rising again to help others find their path? In this episode, we sit down with Jessica Summers, a mom and former boutiq...
The Relationship You Need Before Finding "The One"
Join our FREE Sober Living Stories FB Group for Inspiration, New Episodes, Guest Highlight & Free Resources Click Here 🫵 Sober Living Stories | Facebook...
Why You Can't Stop Binge Eating (It's Not About Food)
Host Jessica Stipanovic and Renae Saager sit down to talk about how Renae teaches go-getter women worldwide how to start living a powerful, authentic life free from food and weight obsession. Tapping into her own unique journey with disordered ...
He Lost Everything—Then Found Redemption
Imagine finding redemption at your lowest point—Doug Sweeney did just that. After a journey marked by addiction and run-ins with the law, Doug discovered a life-transforming faith that reshaped his entire existence. On this episode of Sober Liv...
She Broke Generational Alcoholism Without Traditional Recovery
What if the key to overcoming addiction lies not in conventional methods, but in the depths of spiritual and holistic practices? Join us as Veronica Barragan, a remarkable holistic therapist and wellness counselor, recounts her challeng...
When Perfectionism Is Really Survival
In this episode of the Sober Living Stories podcast, we're joined by Tina Sasso, a nurse practitioner, holistic wellness health coach, and survivor of relationship trauma who is passionate about empowering Women Survivors of Relationsh...
She Left Law Behind—and Became a New York Times Bestselling Author
Join us for an empowering episode with Lisann Valentin, a lawyer turned actor and New York Times bestselling author, who shares her compelling journey from a childhood immersed in drinking culture to an adulthood filled with success. ...
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The Day She Stopped Trying to Save Him
Can love survive the storm of addiction? Join us as we uncover the powerful story of Anna Kingsley, a psychotherapist from London, who opens up about the ups and downs of being married to an active alcoholic who turned 20 months alcohol...
A Rockstar's Guide to Sobriety: Sarah Smith's Music and Life
Join Jessica Stipanovic as she sits down with Sarah Smith, a Canadian roots rock songwriter, who shares her sobriety story and how she lives it out on the road enjoying a 26-year music career. Sarah returns to her high schoo...
How to Survive Your First 90 Days Without Alcohol
Have you ever wondered how a single day can change your life forever? Meet Courtney Andersen, a sober life coach, podcast host, and author. She is the founder of Sober Vibes and National Sober Day and helps women quit drinking alcohol and...
She Escaped Childhood Trauma—But Married an Alcoholic
Welcome to another episode of the Sober Living Stories Podcast. Meet Stephanie McAuliffe, author of two international best-sellers, as she shares her personal story. From surviving sexual abuse and growing up in a family overwrought...
She Never Hit Rock Bottom—So Why Did She Quit Drinking?
Meet Leigh of @macrosnmocktails, a first-class female on a mission to normalize sobriety by bravely sharing her life as a sober mom one post at a time. Join host Jessica Stipanovic as she sits down with Leigh to listen to her sobriety s...
What Do You Do When Someone You Love Is Drinking Too Much?
Have you ever witnessed a friend or family member suffer from alcoholism or addiction and wondered how you could help?Join us as we share Lisa Dare's powerful journey of witnessing a friend's descent into alcoholism and supporting her p...
From West Hollywood Nightlife to a Life He Loves
Sobriety isn't about being boring, it's about embracing life to the fullest. Nobody knows that better than my next guest, Mick Resendez of @queerrecovery where he kicks shame to the curb and wins over alcohol. He invites you to forg...
She Got Sober at 21—42 Years Later, Here's What She Knows
Join us on this episode of the Sober Living Stories podcast as we welcome Amy Colliton, a former childhood actor and founder of her own theater company, who celebrates 42 years of sobriety today. From her first encounter with alcohol at just 11...
From Iraq War Veteran to Recovery Advocate
Join us as we welcome Nick Padlo, an Iraq war veteran and accomplished business professional who openly shares his personal story from military and business success to battling addiction and depression. Throughout this episode, Nick ope...
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What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You
Have you ever wondered how nutrition and holistic health can completely transform your life? Tune in to another episode of The Sober Living Stories Podcast with Jessica Stipanovic. This week, she sits down with Lizzie Nelson...
When Childhood Becomes Your Greatest Teacher
Can growing up in an alcoholic household shape your future for the better? Claire George's extraordinary journey answers that question with a resounding yes. Join us on this heartfelt episode of Sober Living Stories, where Claire, a hea...
The Abusive Stepfather Who Changed His Life Forever
At only four years old, Kyle Robinson’s life changes dramatically—a man he calls Big Bad Ben, or Triple B becomes his stepfather. Over the next decade, Kyle and his siblings live in terror daily, trying anything to escape his physical and emoti...