In this week’s episode of the Alcohol Minimalist podcast, Molly shares an insightful conversation with debut novelist and recovery advocate Jessica Guerrieri.
While fiction authors aren’t typical guests, Jessica’s novel Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea offers a compelling and deeply personal exploration of the consequences of mommy wine culture, making it a perfect fit for the podcast’s mission.
Jessica and Molly dive into why fiction can be a powerful medium for examining difficult topics like addiction, parenting, and societal narratives around alcohol. They also talk about how book clubs, which often center around drinking, can become surprising catalysts for self-reflection when a story resonates on a personal level.
Jessica shares openly about her own recovery journey, her identity as a mother and writer, and how her book reflects the emotional and relational costs of unchecked alcohol use, especially for women trying to manage the pressures of modern motherhood.
This conversation touches on:
- The deeper truths behind mommy wine culture
- Why Jessica chose fiction over memoir or self-help
- The emotional impact of addiction on relationships and self-identity
- How storytelling can spark honest conversations in safe spaces
- Jessica’s next project and her life in recovery today
Whether you’re a book lover, a parent, or someone rethinking your relationship with alcohol, this episode offers thoughtful insights and encouragement.
About Jessica Guerrieri
- Author of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
- Winner of the Maurice Prize for Fiction
- Advocate for recovery and mindful motherhood
- Lives in Davis, California with her husband and three daughters
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What is Alcohol Minimalist: Mindful Drinking & Behavior Change?
Join coach Molly Watts on the Alcohol Minimalist Podcast to explore mindful drinking, behavior change, and mental wellness. This show offers science-based strategies to help you break drinking habits and overcome anxiety linked to alcohol use. Whether you're an adult child of alcoholics or seeking peace with your drinking, discover tools for lasting change without shame or guilt. New episodes every Monday and Thursday.
Becoming an alcohol minimalist means:
Choosing how to include alcohol in our lives following low-risk guidelines.
Freedom from anxiety around alcohol use.
Less alcohol without feeling deprived.
Using the power of our own brains to overcome our past patterns and choose peace.
The Alcohol Minimalist Podcast explores the science behind alcohol and analyzes physical and mental wellness to empower choice. You have the power to change your relationship with alcohol, you are not sick, broken and it's not your genes!
This show is intended for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. If you are physically dependent on alcohol, please seek medical help to reduce your drinking.