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Today, I sit down with Teresa Bergen to talk about sober travel—why traveling can spike stress, anxiety, and cravings, and how those factors can put recovery at risk if you don’t plan ahead. We break down what “sober travel” actually looks like in the real world and why alcohol-free options should be normalized, not treated like an afterthought or villainized.

Ms. Bergen shares how she became a travel writer and what shaped her recovery story, including how early sobriety gave her a full adult life to build healthy habits and meaningful adventures. We also talk about how travel culture often revolves around drinking—especially on industry trips—and how that pressure can make non-drinkers feel “othered” unless they reframe the experience and travel with intention. 

I walk through practical relapse-prevention strategies for common travel chaos: delayed flights, cancellations, boredom, and isolation. Ms. Bergen explains how to build a simple safety system—bring distractions and snacks, plan check-ins with your accountability people, and avoid leaving big empty pockets of time that steer you toward the airport bar or the “just one won’t matter” lie. 

We also highlight Ms. Bergen’s Sober Travel Handbook and the types of scenarios it prepares you for—work networking, family events, and trips where people keep pushing drinks. She points listeners to additional sober-friendly resources like The Sober Curator, and we close with the mindset that matters most: choose trips that fit your recovery, keep an exit strategy, and make sobriety-inclusive plans (including mocktails) normal for everyone. 

teresabergen.com

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