#032: Alcohol-Free: Setting the right tone, removing the glamour of alcohol and providing forgiveness and grace

29 May

This week I spoke to Jen Gilhoi. Jen Is an advocate for and creator of healthy social experiences that decentralise alcohol. Her journey spans two decades of alcohol misuse, eight years of an alcohol-free lifestyle, corporate roles, and entrepreneurial ventures. She shatters stigmas around choosing not to drink by inviting others to engage in self and societal inquiry to heal and be well.

In her life and work, Jen is fascinated with the art of gathering and intentional conversations. She’s an event experience strategist and founder of Sparktrack; a writer and conversationalist cracking open society’s role in addiction at jengilhoi.com; and cofounder of Zero Proof Collective, where business leaders and those interested in the non-alcoholic beverages industry thoughtfully connect, collaborate, and share resources to advance zero-proof options, experiences, and social spaces.

Jen is also a board member of Dissonance, an organisation that promotes mental health and

recovery in and through the arts.

What you’ll hear about:

Addiction and authenticity
Setting the right tone to support individuals not drinking alcohol
A part of the sobriety journey is missing
The need to communicate how highly addictive alcohol is
Glamorisation of alcohol needs to change to change its perception in people's minds
The need to normalise alcohol free lifestyles
Be open to exploring your alcohol use
Forgiveness and grace within the process
Supporting individuals to have positive experiences that can be built upon
The tie to alcohol as part of workplace culture
Where companies have made progress in creating the right cultural tone