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Eryka V. is a queer, sober, first-generation founder and the co-creator of Namari—a non-alcoholic digestif rooted in intention, ritual, and bold flavor.
In this episode, we talk about what happens when you quit alcohol, meat, and caffeine all at once—and how that radical choice led to clarity, creativity, and the launch of something revolutionary. From finding community to letting go of ego, Eryka shares wisdom on building a brand (and a life) that actually feels good. We dig into identity, connection, the power of ritual, and what it means to create something that tastes like love and intention—not just trend.
If you’re craving depth, joy, or just a better non-alcoholic drink—this episode delivers.
1:21 – How Eryka Got Sober (Dry January… Plus No Meat, No Caffeine)
4:52 – The Band-Aid Rip: Goodbye Booze, Meat, and Coffee
7:46 – Building Namari: A Drink With Intention
11:52 – You Can Taste the Love (Like a Lemonade Stand in Summer)
17:19 – Finding Your People in Sobriety
22:12 – Saying “I Don’t Drink” Without Apology
29:16 – Choosing What Serves You (and Letting Go of the Rest)
33:58 – The Best Way to Drink Namari (Spoiler: Pineapple, Lime or Neat)
Namari Website: https://drinknamari.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/drinknamari
More Sober Banter: https://soberbanterpodcast.transistor.fm
Join Our Community: https://soberbanter.mn.co
Join Our Community: https://soberbanter.mn.co
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Thanks for being part of the Sober Banter fam. We’re here, we’re laughing, and we’re doing recovery our way. 💛
- (01:21) - – How Eryka stopped drinking
- (04:52) - – The Band-Aid Rip: Goodbye Booze, Meat, and Coffee
- (07:46) - – Building Namari: A Drink With Intention
- (11:52) - – You Can Taste the Love (Like a Lemonade Stand in Summer)
- (17:19) - – Finding Your People in Sobriety
- (22:12) - – Saying “I Don’t Drink” Without Apology
- (29:16) - – Choosing What Serves You (and Letting Go of the Rest)
- (33:58) - – The Best Way to Drink Namari (Spoiler: Pineapple, Lime or Neat)
Creators and Guests
What is Sober Banter?
Sober Banter, a podcast about life without alcohol, is real, relatable, and never boring. Hosts Rachel and Colin share honest conversations about sobriety with humor, heart, and a touch of chaos.
Rachel C (00:00:06):
my name is rachel welcome to sober banter i have erica you are co-founder of namari
Rachel C (00:00:12):
and i'm already excited it is a revolutionary it is a non-alcoholic digestive and
Rachel C (00:00:21):
it speaks to the rebels the creatives and the complex individuals who are
Rachel C (00:00:27):
redefining life without booze you've been sober since
Rachel C (00:00:32):
January 4th, 2021.
Rachel C (00:00:34):
We are 2021 class of 2021.
Rachel C (00:00:37):
And you bring in this vibrant energy with Namaari that you have co-founded and
Rachel C (00:00:43):
welcome to Sober Banter.
Eryka V (00:00:45):
Thank you.
Eryka V (00:00:46):
Super grateful to be here and have the opportunity to share space and connect with
Eryka V (00:00:51):
you and also connect with folks that bless your podcast with time.
Eryka V (00:00:57):
And so I'm grateful to be here and share space.
Rachel C (00:00:59):
same very great but i've met probably i think that's the most serendipitous part of
Rachel C (00:01:04):
this podcast is i never thought that we would have guests like i think if i can go
Rachel C (00:01:08):
back to our first recordings i'm like yeah like anyone will want to banter with us
Rachel C (00:01:12):
and we have just met the coolest people and i think the one thing i really love is
Rachel C (00:01:17):
no one has the same way of getting sober there are so many different ways how did
Rachel C (00:01:22):
you go about getting sober four days after new year's in 2021
Eryka V (00:01:26):
i believe i was exactly where i was supposed to be and that's usually when divine
Eryka V (00:01:31):
timing happens and things bless us and so dry january was something that i have
Eryka V (00:01:37):
practiced for tons of years probably over like 10 15 years and dry january evolved
Eryka V (00:01:44):
I think about eight years or so ago,
Eryka V (00:01:47):
I started also,
Eryka V (00:01:49):
regardless of not drinking,
Eryka V (00:01:51):
I also chose to take away a certain consumption of type of food.
Eryka V (00:01:56):
So let's say you could say like no sugar as well, or no animal products or whatnot.
Eryka V (00:02:02):
And so that would be in addition to, and then another habit would be no consumption of caffeine.
Eryka V (00:02:09):
And so dry January had evolved into that.
Eryka V (00:02:12):
And so when it came down to pick that dry January, I did the combination of vegan.
Eryka V (00:02:19):
So no animal products at all, no alcohol and no caffeine.
Eryka V (00:02:25):
And when dry January was over, I felt the lightest internally that I ever have in my life.
Eryka V (00:02:32):
And I felt some of the cleanest energy.
Eryka V (00:02:35):
that I've ever felt transmit through me.
Eryka V (00:02:37):
And I felt in a way,
Eryka V (00:02:39):
very grateful to be able to feel what I was feeling and didn't want to question it.
Eryka V (00:02:46):
And I just kept believing in it.
Rachel C (00:02:48):
dry january did you end up drinking on the first couple days and you say the fourth
Rachel C (00:02:52):
or is the fourth like your intention day where it like really was meant where you
Eryka V (00:02:57):
meant i always start on the monday of the january so i would do the whole 31 days i
Eryka V (00:03:02):
still went into february but i always started on that monday because i love a good
Eryka V (00:03:06):
kiki and party and there's no way in hell i was going to start my new years early
Eryka V (00:03:12):
and just be on like the first like the first led to the second it would always be
Eryka V (00:03:16):
that monday
Eryka V (00:03:17):
when i would ground down 10 toes down no more liquor so did you know in that
Rachel C (00:03:22):
january 21 that it was gonna end up being this long absolutely nope no and every
Rachel C (00:03:27):
year before yeah i could never make it i could never make it through a dry january
Rachel C (00:03:31):
i tried there was i white knuckled a whole 30 and i drank like at midnight on the
Rachel C (00:03:40):
31st day and it was sad and it was like right before we got sober i just remember
Rachel C (00:03:44):
being so i wasn't excited for food i felt great too
Rachel C (00:03:47):
And then I was like, how can I come ruin this as soon as I can?
Eryka V (00:03:50):
No, I don't.
Eryka V (00:03:52):
I have always believed that if I want to do something, I can do it.
Eryka V (00:03:57):
And so I had never wanted to stop drinking.
Eryka V (00:03:59):
That's just, dry January is part of like a ritual practice I did just to recheck in.
Eryka V (00:04:06):
It had nothing to do specifically with,
Eryka V (00:04:08):
with liquor even or alcohol or whatever we want to label it was more just checking
Eryka V (00:04:13):
in on my consumption and always making sure nothing has power over me because if
Eryka V (00:04:17):
something has that much power over me then there was going to need to be a check-in
Eryka V (00:04:22):
even with like caffeine things like that and so I had no intention it was another
Eryka V (00:04:27):
dry January but the high that I felt
Eryka V (00:04:30):
was the best high that I had ever felt.
Eryka V (00:04:33):
And I had clarity and just awareness in that moment to know like,
Eryka V (00:04:38):
nah,
Eryka V (00:04:38):
I'm not gonna have a drink.
Eryka V (00:04:40):
I'm not gonna go back to the same eating habits either.
Eryka V (00:04:43):
Like I, from that day on, I also have never had animal products again.
Rachel C (00:04:48):
wow that's amazing i've i've gone vegan a few times so you just like ripped off
Eryka V (00:04:54):
band-aids yeah i i just did it and i feel that the things i was the the items that
Eryka V (00:04:59):
i was consuming whether it be like the books i was reading the water
Eryka V (00:05:05):
The new type of food that I was consuming,
Eryka V (00:05:08):
I believe that the energy in it just was very different than whatever I was
Eryka V (00:05:13):
consuming prior.
Eryka V (00:05:13):
I think that energy has a lot to do with what we consume too,
Eryka V (00:05:17):
like how it was made,
Eryka V (00:05:18):
why it was made,
Eryka V (00:05:19):
what's its purpose and its impact upon us beyond just the physical aspect.
Eryka V (00:05:25):
And so just that high was so great.
Eryka V (00:05:28):
And I've never looked back because the high is phenomenal.
Eryka V (00:05:32):
the lightness more than just like physical weight.
Eryka V (00:05:36):
It's this internal weight.
Eryka V (00:05:37):
It's also this lightness to be able to grieve and feel sadness when the world is in
Eryka V (00:05:42):
the places it is,
Eryka V (00:05:44):
or I am impacted by certain things.
Eryka V (00:05:47):
There's lightness around how I encounter sadness versus the heaviness that I used
Eryka V (00:05:52):
to feel with the habits of consumption I had.
Rachel C (00:05:55):
Well, now I'm also curious, what kind of drinker were you?
Eryka V (00:05:59):
I mean, I was
Rachel C (00:06:00):
Were you binge or were you just all the time, 24 seven?
Rachel C (00:06:04):
Sounds like you're pretty in tune with yourself.
Eryka V (00:06:06):
I was a drinker that it was a part of my identity.
Eryka V (00:06:09):
And I think when things are part of my identity, that's like an ego.
Eryka V (00:06:13):
The more we attach ourselves to things of our ego,
Eryka V (00:06:16):
you know,
Eryka V (00:06:16):
it's like we're further from our true selves or further from our spirituality and
Eryka V (00:06:21):
whatever God you may believe in.
Eryka V (00:06:23):
Ego to me stands for edging God out.
Eryka V (00:06:25):
And so the more you over identify with that,
Eryka V (00:06:28):
that happens and i was just like a obnoxious drinker just like obnoxious thinking
Eryka V (00:06:33):
it was classy and cute drinking all the best drinks there was a night of 1942
Eryka V (00:06:39):
whether it was a night of bottle service whether it was a night of six bottles of
Eryka V (00:06:43):
natural wine whatever it was it was obnoxious
Eryka V (00:06:47):
it was cute while it was there and it lasted but i just that's you know that's what
Eryka V (00:06:52):
it was i just over identified with that part of me i mean when people have
Eryka V (00:06:58):
nicknames for you that involve your habits i think that is because i am over
Rachel C (00:07:03):
identifying with that habit wow that's a really good insight which i'm so glad that
Rachel C (00:07:09):
my habit now is like people associate me with being sober because i never thought
Rachel C (00:07:13):
i'd get sober
Rachel C (00:07:14):
And I think it's so cool that being in line with yourself, being able to check in.
Rachel C (00:07:19):
I don't even think I could do that till year one.
Rachel C (00:07:21):
I was just detoxing, I guess, from the booze.
Rachel C (00:07:25):
Like I was so scared to go inward.
Rachel C (00:07:27):
Meditation was scary.
Rachel C (00:07:29):
God, I love meditation.
Rachel C (00:07:30):
Now I could meditate.
Rachel C (00:07:31):
Oh my, I just love it.
Rachel C (00:07:33):
And Eckhart Tolle,
Rachel C (00:07:34):
I've like,
Rachel C (00:07:34):
you're reminding me so much of his book of like,
Rachel C (00:07:37):
we're experiencing these things and how we're feeling the light.
Rachel C (00:07:40):
And there had to have come a moment where you're like, maybe I do like the drink.
Rachel C (00:07:45):
And I don't like the alcohol.
Rachel C (00:07:46):
So is that, how did you start your non-alcoholic digestive?
Rachel C (00:07:51):
I was like, it's not a wine.
Rachel C (00:07:53):
I want to order some already.
Rachel C (00:07:54):
So I plan to, I was really tried to see if I could get it today.
Eryka V (00:07:57):
We've got to get you some.
Rachel C (00:07:59):
I looked, I looked at the stores.
Rachel C (00:08:00):
I was like, I wonder if, and I felt so weird going on to an alcohol site.
Rachel C (00:08:04):
And there is a,
Rachel C (00:08:06):
There are like three non-alcoholic stores in Dallas and they're all closed Sunday and Monday.
Rachel C (00:08:11):
And I was like, old habits die hard, y'all.
Rachel C (00:08:17):
We're still like, yep, F Monday.
Eryka V (00:08:19):
Yeah, that's interesting.
Eryka V (00:08:21):
The way...
Eryka V (00:08:22):
Namari came about is just a part in the bigger journey.
Eryka V (00:08:26):
Just like the way I stopped drinking is just part of a bigger journey.
Eryka V (00:08:30):
Like sometimes people see milestones in your life and even ourselves,
Eryka V (00:08:34):
we tend to focus or isolate an incident versus open it up because when we isolate
Eryka V (00:08:41):
it,
Eryka V (00:08:41):
we really minimize the journey.
Eryka V (00:08:42):
And so not drinking was part of a journey that had started probably like 10 years
Eryka V (00:08:47):
ago when certain people
Eryka V (00:08:49):
consumptions of drugs or other things were happening and my body was physically
Eryka V (00:08:53):
feeling things and I have health problems that I need to find solutions for.
Eryka V (00:08:58):
And, you know, we're never aware of our health until we have a health problem.
Eryka V (00:09:02):
We're never aware of heartbreak until our heart breaks.
Eryka V (00:09:05):
And so the journey
Eryka V (00:09:08):
what led me there and and the way namari happened is you know i hadn't been
Eryka V (00:09:13):
drinking i think for a few years already yeah because this is 2021 and we're in
Eryka V (00:09:18):
2025 so it had been already like maybe two years and a half three years i've tasted
Eryka V (00:09:22):
like everything that exists that is non-alcoholic and again i believe things have
Eryka V (00:09:28):
energy so i'm a person that's like who's the founders who's the investors i come
Eryka V (00:09:32):
from the fintech world i come
Eryka V (00:09:34):
from the coffee world.
Eryka V (00:09:36):
And I'm very familiar with great products,
Eryka V (00:09:38):
but people behind great products that don't align with my morals or the way I would
Eryka V (00:09:44):
like to impact the world.
Eryka V (00:09:45):
And so I'm very cognizant of what I consume from that point too.
Eryka V (00:09:48):
So I always look into products,
Eryka V (00:09:51):
who's an investor,
Eryka V (00:09:52):
who owns it,
Eryka V (00:09:53):
what's it made from,
Eryka V (00:09:54):
what are these ingredients?
Eryka V (00:09:55):
Because look, if I'm not gonna do all that, then I might as well be binge drinking.
Eryka V (00:10:00):
I might as well be consuming things that poison me.
Eryka V (00:10:03):
because there are still things that are not alcohol that are not great for my
Eryka V (00:10:09):
system or my energy or how I move in this world.
Eryka V (00:10:11):
And so there's a lot of things I had tasted.
Eryka V (00:10:13):
I really wasn't keen to many of the items.
Eryka V (00:10:17):
They were
Eryka V (00:10:18):
you know,
Eryka V (00:10:18):
at times over formulated,
Eryka V (00:10:19):
had a lot of things that I didn't know what they were that I needed to Google,
Eryka V (00:10:23):
had things for color,
Eryka V (00:10:25):
just a lot of stuff.
Eryka V (00:10:26):
And so there were things I loved.
Eryka V (00:10:28):
I was an early, early athletic adopter too.
Eryka V (00:10:32):
I loved athletic.
Eryka V (00:10:33):
beer and it was great and so there was there's good stuff that was impacting the
Eryka V (00:10:37):
world but there was this very slim to none and I'll never forget I was at this
Eryka V (00:10:41):
beautiful restaurant in Ojai and I saw this beautiful beverage on the menu and they
Eryka V (00:10:49):
made it in-house and I tasted it and I was like what is this what
Eryka V (00:10:53):
What is this?
Eryka V (00:10:54):
What's in it?
Eryka V (00:10:55):
Who makes it?
Eryka V (00:10:56):
All the questions flew out.
Eryka V (00:10:58):
It was very magical.
Eryka V (00:10:59):
When you taste great things and they come from a great place,
Eryka V (00:11:03):
you can taste the energy and love that people put into things.
Eryka V (00:11:08):
Go to find out it was Brittany, which is our founder.
Eryka V (00:11:12):
She was making this in-house.
Eryka V (00:11:13):
She was doing great things.
Eryka V (00:11:15):
The rest is pretty history after that.
Eryka V (00:11:17):
It was a beautiful product that she was making because she missed not having a good
Eryka V (00:11:25):
Amaro,
Eryka V (00:11:25):
which I agree with.
Eryka V (00:11:28):
And as a drinker,
Eryka V (00:11:29):
again,
Eryka V (00:11:30):
that I said I'd like to keep it classy and cute when I was drinking,
Eryka V (00:11:33):
you wouldn't catch me drinking things.
Eryka V (00:11:35):
Even if I did want to drink,
Eryka V (00:11:37):
You weren't going to catch me drinking something that to me was not going to be
Eryka V (00:11:41):
with the vibe or,
Eryka V (00:11:42):
you know,
Eryka V (00:11:43):
cute or out there.
Eryka V (00:11:45):
I needed to drink something that vibed with my aesthetics.
Eryka V (00:11:49):
And so when I drank this, I could taste quality.
Eryka V (00:11:52):
I could taste the love.
Eryka V (00:11:53):
I could also taste the knowledge.
Eryka V (00:11:55):
Like I was like, damn, whoever is making this knows what the hell they're doing.
Eryka V (00:11:58):
They're not just someone that wanted to make some N.A.
Eryka V (00:12:00):
beverage.
Eryka V (00:12:01):
There's someone that like knows Amaro.
Eryka V (00:12:03):
And yeah, she's incredible.
Eryka V (00:12:05):
She's a genius.
Eryka V (00:12:06):
I call her an alchemist.
Eryka V (00:12:07):
I don't think I've met many people in the NA industry that have her type of
Eryka V (00:12:12):
background and take the time in a product to make it from farm to bottle.
Rachel C (00:12:19):
That's amazing.
Rachel C (00:12:20):
You can tell when you drink something and it like hits you.
Rachel C (00:12:23):
Maybe even like the kids' lemonade stands too.
Rachel C (00:12:25):
You see they're so cute and you're like,
Rachel C (00:12:26):
the lemonade is,
Rachel C (00:12:27):
it's made with heart and love and they're so good.
Eryka V (00:12:30):
I love that you say that.
Eryka V (00:12:31):
That's actually a very good analogy.
Eryka V (00:12:32):
There are kids,
Eryka V (00:12:33):
I live right here on the beach and during the summer,
Eryka V (00:12:36):
there's some kids that sell it and they fresh squeeze the lemon made right there.
Eryka V (00:12:40):
They make it, they're showing you, they like love what they're making.
Eryka V (00:12:44):
They're even sipping their own cup, their salad.
Eryka V (00:12:46):
It's like
Eryka V (00:12:47):
the whole experience and the proudness and like everything i definitely think you
Eryka V (00:12:52):
can taste it i come from the coffee world there is nothing more precious than a
Eryka V (00:12:56):
single origin coffee that you can just taste the love that the farmers have put
Eryka V (00:13:00):
into those beans and i think that remembering where things come from our land and
Eryka V (00:13:06):
how people go about getting those items from our land
Eryka V (00:13:10):
And giving gratitude for the things we get from our land and how it got into our
Eryka V (00:13:15):
plates or our bottle is very essential.
Eryka V (00:13:18):
And I think we often skip over that part of the cycle and we just like go straight
Eryka V (00:13:24):
into consumption and giving things to like the person we bought it from.
Rachel C (00:13:29):
A hundred percent.
Rachel C (00:13:30):
Yeah.
Rachel C (00:13:30):
And it sucks because like those lemonade stands are adorable.
Rachel C (00:13:34):
But if you were to look at profit margins,
Rachel C (00:13:36):
man,
Rachel C (00:13:37):
it's tough because corporate will take it over and be like,
Rachel C (00:13:39):
I'm going to buy out that lemonade stand.
Rachel C (00:13:41):
And it's like, so you just took all the love away.
Rachel C (00:13:44):
Like that's, that wasn't.
Rachel C (00:13:45):
Oh yeah.
Eryka V (00:13:46):
You brought up that word.
Rachel C (00:13:47):
It wasn't.
Rachel C (00:13:48):
corporate capitalism yes you took it away and it's it's hard to not and i i
Rachel C (00:13:55):
actually i've lately been considering i'm like yeah we are we're a small podcast
Rachel C (00:14:00):
i'm in my dining room like this is not some studio and when i was reading about
Rachel C (00:14:06):
your you just have a very authentic raw vibe and i think i got away from that on
Rachel C (00:14:11):
the podcast a little bit because someone made a comment about my interviewing oh
Rachel C (00:14:17):
and since then i've been so focused on the interview the point of the podcast is to
Rachel C (00:14:21):
be raw is to be honest absolutely and did you welcome i was like if someone were a
Rachel C (00:14:26):
feedback i'm like wondering did you ask for feedback no well one of them was
Rachel C (00:14:31):
someone really nice just saying the talking over not pausing not slowing down i was
Rachel C (00:14:35):
just excited to be honest i'm like someone wants to talk to me i didn't even care
Eryka V (00:14:40):
yeah and i want to say like it's not about perfection it's about progress and
Eryka V (00:14:44):
process and also like be yourself don't subscribe to what people see that is their
Eryka V (00:14:49):
perception and maybe they prefer spaces where they're very rigid and dialogue and
Eryka V (00:14:56):
things like that but it is okay to banter yeah and that's where i was just thinking
Rachel C (00:15:00):
today i'm like you know honestly if
Rachel C (00:15:02):
It was like, how are you doing today?
Rachel C (00:15:04):
I was going to be like, yeah, I'm having a case of the effing Mondays.
Rachel C (00:15:06):
Nothing seems to have gone right today other than right now.
Rachel C (00:15:09):
And I said, you know what?
Rachel C (00:15:11):
I know the minute I connect with another person who is not drinking that used to
Rachel C (00:15:15):
drink the way I drink,
Rachel C (00:15:16):
it's going to get better because that's the secret.
Rachel C (00:15:18):
But I will not pick up the phone and reach out and be like,
Rachel C (00:15:21):
hey,
Rachel C (00:15:21):
I'm having a case of the Mondays.
Rachel C (00:15:24):
Instead,
Rachel C (00:15:24):
I'm like,
Rachel C (00:15:24):
well,
Rachel C (00:15:24):
thank God I had a podcast interview because otherwise it would have been my husband
Rachel C (00:15:28):
until I got home.
Rachel C (00:15:29):
And I don't know why we do that.
Rachel C (00:15:31):
I don't know if you do that.
Eryka V (00:15:32):
Definitely not.
Eryka V (00:15:33):
I used to.
Eryka V (00:15:34):
I used to definitely self-isolate.
Eryka V (00:15:36):
I mean,
Eryka V (00:15:37):
isolating,
Eryka V (00:15:38):
I am naturally a self-preservation type of person,
Eryka V (00:15:41):
meaning that's the energy I really tap into,
Eryka V (00:15:45):
but I can over-index in there.
Eryka V (00:15:47):
And that's where I'm here in my home,
Eryka V (00:15:50):
content journaling about my grief or content journaling about a struggle.
Eryka V (00:15:55):
And those things work.
Eryka V (00:15:56):
They do.
Eryka V (00:15:57):
But
Eryka V (00:15:59):
we have community all around and it is up to us to tap into it and me working
Eryka V (00:16:04):
through my shame shame is what keeps me from connecting with people shame is what
Eryka V (00:16:09):
keeps me in isolation shame is the ego telling me like i'm not you know shouldn't
Eryka V (00:16:15):
share my problems like i should uphold perfectionism and no that's that's a lie
Eryka V (00:16:21):
like it is okay to call my friend and be like
Eryka V (00:16:24):
You were dismissive last week with like me and that hurt my feelings.
Eryka V (00:16:29):
And I just needed to share that with you.
Eryka V (00:16:32):
And also like sharing that I have boundaries or sharing that the latest policy that
Eryka V (00:16:38):
is attacking an intersection of mine is really heavy.
Eryka V (00:16:41):
And I can tap into community and say those things.
Eryka V (00:16:44):
And community is my chosen family.
Eryka V (00:16:46):
And it's a beautiful thing to have chosen family and create those safe spaces and trust.
Eryka V (00:16:52):
those people and not let the shame get in the way or past experiences where my
Eryka V (00:16:57):
trust has been broken and and label all people like that yeah 100 i think i
Rachel C (00:17:04):
definitely relate a lot to the past experience part two although the more time i
Rachel C (00:17:10):
get sober
Rachel C (00:17:12):
I don't know that my memories are as accurate as I might have felt them to be.
Rachel C (00:17:17):
Cause a lot of times, well, I was drinking.
Rachel C (00:17:19):
How do you find your spaces?
Rachel C (00:17:20):
Like this sound I, I want to move right now.
Rachel C (00:17:24):
Like I'm like the base sounds awesome because in Texas does I have,
Rachel C (00:17:28):
there's so much,
Rachel C (00:17:28):
there's great people here.
Rachel C (00:17:30):
Sounds like you have a very.
Rachel C (00:17:32):
great, strong community around you.
Rachel C (00:17:34):
How'd you find it?
Eryka V (00:17:35):
I mean,
Eryka V (00:17:35):
I think the more we ground into ourselves and we know ourselves and we can look in
Eryka V (00:17:40):
the mirror or we can look into our heart or we can look into our soul and face the
Eryka V (00:17:44):
ugly,
Eryka V (00:17:45):
the beautiful, the cringy, like every part of ourselves and accept.
Eryka V (00:17:49):
The more we accept ourselves, we can find spaces that accept us.
Eryka V (00:17:54):
The more like I hide parts of myself,
Eryka V (00:17:56):
I will find not so genuine connections because I'm not showing up as myself.
Eryka V (00:18:01):
And so for me, the Bay Area is a safe space on a lot of levels.
Eryka V (00:18:06):
It has its own issues, of course.
Eryka V (00:18:09):
like every place.
Eryka V (00:18:09):
But again, it's never going to be about perfection.
Eryka V (00:18:12):
If that was the goal,
Eryka V (00:18:13):
then I'd have to want to be powerful and greedy and not care about anyone else
Eryka V (00:18:18):
because that's the only way perfection can be upheld.
Eryka V (00:18:21):
But for me, it was the Bay Area is safe on a lot of my identity.
Eryka V (00:18:26):
I don't
Eryka V (00:18:28):
for the most part,
Eryka V (00:18:29):
have to worry who's going to be looking or am I different in this way or am I not
Eryka V (00:18:34):
fitting this sort of neighborhood or this or that.
Eryka V (00:18:37):
There's going to be those things.
Eryka V (00:18:38):
That already gives me a sense of belonging.
Eryka V (00:18:42):
The other part is being able to have friends that just care about who I am, not
Eryka V (00:18:51):
what career I have,
Eryka V (00:18:52):
not what I own,
Eryka V (00:18:54):
not all these materialistic things,
Eryka V (00:18:57):
but they care about what,
Eryka V (00:18:59):
what I'm doing,
Eryka V (00:18:59):
like in life,
Eryka V (00:19:00):
like how I feel,
Eryka V (00:19:02):
where,
Eryka V (00:19:02):
how did my day go?
Eryka V (00:19:04):
What did you do today that made you feel joy?
Eryka V (00:19:06):
What gave you peace?
Eryka V (00:19:07):
I have people like that around me and I've found them on dance floors.
Eryka V (00:19:12):
I've found them in nights I blacked out and we have just stuck together and have
Eryka V (00:19:18):
came out on the other side of things,
Eryka V (00:19:19):
but there were deeper things that connected us than drinks.
Eryka V (00:19:22):
And some of them don't drink anymore.
Eryka V (00:19:25):
And I have a couple of close friends that sipped
Eryka V (00:19:30):
what they want to sip.
Eryka V (00:19:31):
And that's okay too.
Eryka V (00:19:32):
Like not everyone has to mirror me.
Eryka V (00:19:34):
It's not about finding many me's everywhere too,
Eryka V (00:19:37):
because then we forget to diversify our way of thinking or approaching things.
Eryka V (00:19:43):
And so that's really important to me.
Rachel C (00:19:45):
That's beautiful.
Rachel C (00:19:46):
It's a really good way to like ask yourself, what do you align with this?
Rachel C (00:19:51):
I think I said that on the podcast at one point that when asked in early Friday,
Rachel C (00:19:56):
what's my favorite type of food?
Rachel C (00:19:57):
I don't think I knew because I never cared about the food.
Rachel C (00:20:00):
I just, wherever the drinks were.
Rachel C (00:20:02):
And it really,
Rachel C (00:20:02):
the first time we went to a nice dinner and also got the bill and I was like,
Rachel C (00:20:08):
are you sure this is right?
Rachel C (00:20:09):
Like, yeah.
Rachel C (00:20:11):
oh where's the 150 worth of alcohol like that's crazy and the food tastes so good
Rachel C (00:20:18):
and i was just why have i been just diluting this it made me question a lot of the
Rachel C (00:20:23):
relationships i lost a lot of people when i got sober because a lot of my friends
Rachel C (00:20:29):
well i shouldn't say lost but it became very aware of who was their
Rachel C (00:20:35):
just another person to drink with when i got sober and it's a hard lesson yeah did
Eryka V (00:20:41):
you experience that at all i experienced my own shame the stories i made up in my
Eryka V (00:20:47):
head fear of rejection is a huge thing for me and i believe that fear stands for
Eryka V (00:20:53):
false evidence appearing real and i have to remind myself of that and so these
Eryka V (00:20:57):
stories when i first stopped drinking you know i had a very very lovely social life
Eryka V (00:21:03):
and
Eryka V (00:21:04):
thank the damn community.
Eryka V (00:21:05):
I still do just in different places,
Eryka V (00:21:07):
but I had a very great social life in the nightclubs and great music places and
Eryka V (00:21:13):
nice restaurants,
Eryka V (00:21:13):
which I still do them just differently.
Eryka V (00:21:16):
And so I think I had this like huge fear of rejection that I'd go hang out with my
Eryka V (00:21:23):
friend and they were going to be like,
Eryka V (00:21:25):
just stare at me like some weird,
Eryka V (00:21:27):
like what's,
Eryka V (00:21:28):
what's happening.
Eryka V (00:21:29):
Or do you want, you know, our usual
Eryka V (00:21:33):
Oh my gosh, Erica brought this amazing bottle over of wine.
Eryka V (00:21:37):
We're going to crack it open.
Eryka V (00:21:38):
What am I going to take now?
Eryka V (00:21:39):
Like this amazing bottle of mineral water, which I mean is, is good too.
Eryka V (00:21:43):
And I love doing that too.
Eryka V (00:21:44):
It was more of that.
Eryka V (00:21:45):
And I think the more I leaned into the discomfort and for me discomfort,
Eryka V (00:21:50):
you know,
Eryka V (00:21:50):
I've always been uncomfortable since I left my house and
Eryka V (00:21:53):
As a child to kindergarten, I realized it's how different I was in a lot of ways.
Eryka V (00:21:58):
And so I've always been uncomfortable.
Eryka V (00:22:00):
So I'm kind of like used to being uncomfortable.
Eryka V (00:22:02):
I'm usually the one in the lonely and the only in a lot of corporate spaces.
Eryka V (00:22:06):
There's a lot of things, but I've learned that being uncomfortable and feeling safe is okay.
Eryka V (00:22:11):
Now being uncomfortable and not feeling safe, that's a whole nother topic for another day.
Eryka V (00:22:15):
But learning that that discomfort was going to help me grow.
Eryka V (00:22:18):
Like I was safe.
Eryka V (00:22:20):
What's the worst that can happen?
Eryka V (00:22:21):
It is awkward.
Eryka V (00:22:22):
Me and my friend don't vibe.
Eryka V (00:22:23):
Maybe that's not going to be a friend no more.
Eryka V (00:22:25):
And that didn't happen as much from them.
Eryka V (00:22:29):
I noticed it was more me.
Eryka V (00:22:30):
It was more me being anxious.
Eryka V (00:22:31):
What am I supposed to do?
Eryka V (00:22:32):
Where's the drink I grab?
Eryka V (00:22:33):
What are we talking about?
Eryka V (00:22:35):
Do I laugh now?
Eryka V (00:22:36):
Do I not?
Eryka V (00:22:37):
Like all this imposter syndrome, all this shame, all this fear.
Eryka V (00:22:41):
Imagine of like letting go of
Eryka V (00:22:44):
something shitty.
Eryka V (00:22:45):
Anyway, in my opinion.
Eryka V (00:22:46):
I relate to it a lot.
Eryka V (00:22:47):
And so I didn't hang out.
Eryka V (00:22:48):
And then I was like, you know, my partner, bless her.
Eryka V (00:22:51):
She's amazing.
Eryka V (00:22:52):
She has a very good, impactful social life, meaning she's always in community things.
Eryka V (00:22:56):
That's her work.
Eryka V (00:22:58):
She's a nonprofit.
Eryka V (00:22:59):
She's very involved in making this world a better place.
Eryka V (00:23:01):
She would encourage me, like, why don't you call so-and-so and go walk the beach?
Eryka V (00:23:05):
Why don't you go, like, tap in?
Eryka V (00:23:06):
Because I would tell her, you have such a great community.
Eryka V (00:23:08):
And she's like, and so do you.
Eryka V (00:23:10):
You should tap in.
Eryka V (00:23:11):
And I would be like, and so I did.
Eryka V (00:23:13):
And you know what?
Eryka V (00:23:14):
I'm so glad I have.
Eryka V (00:23:15):
That's not to say there's also people that I was like,
Eryka V (00:23:17):
ooh,
Eryka V (00:23:18):
Lord,
Eryka V (00:23:18):
honey,
Eryka V (00:23:18):
the champagne was making you interesting.
Eryka V (00:23:20):
There are people like that, and that's great.
Eryka V (00:23:22):
We've moved on.
Eryka V (00:23:23):
But there are people where I'm like, oh my gosh, you were great with the drinks.
Eryka V (00:23:27):
You're great without the drinks.
Eryka V (00:23:29):
I love you.
Eryka V (00:23:30):
Like, I'm so glad you're in my life.
Eryka V (00:23:32):
And I have friends that have told me, I'm so honored that they've told me, you know what?
Eryka V (00:23:37):
Your journey helped me.
Eryka V (00:23:38):
Like, I don't drink anymore because of you because watching you and like, you're just,
Eryka V (00:23:42):
And I'm like, whoa, I'm so honored.
Eryka V (00:23:44):
So I tapped in.
Eryka V (00:23:46):
That's the energy.
Eryka V (00:23:47):
I had that huge fear though.
Eryka V (00:23:48):
I would never front.
Eryka V (00:23:50):
It wasn't them doing that to me.
Eryka V (00:23:52):
It wasn't anyone.
Eryka V (00:23:53):
It was just me and myself telling that story.
Eryka V (00:23:55):
Like, who am I?
Eryka V (00:23:56):
And that's because that ego thing was gone.
Eryka V (00:23:58):
You know, I wasn't attaching to this cool drunk person.
Eryka V (00:24:01):
Like that was gone.
Rachel C (00:24:03):
I think probably a lot of people relate with that.
Rachel C (00:24:05):
I think I'm seeing the shift of society in the drinking and like the club vibe and the bougie.
Rachel C (00:24:12):
And I feel like I'm seeing it drop a little bit.
Rachel C (00:24:14):
There was a point before I got sober, I wanted a Louis so badly.
Rachel C (00:24:18):
and i i did and i would joke i would why i'd rather have now i try the minimal keys
Rachel C (00:24:26):
and there's a magnet that sticks to my phone of my driver you know and but i was
Rachel C (00:24:30):
asking myself who am i trying to show like it is a bag it's they're beautiful now i
Rachel C (00:24:37):
just see it as i think i see marketing maybe a little more versus like true brand
Rachel C (00:24:41):
versus
Rachel C (00:24:43):
being sold, if you will.
Eryka V (00:24:44):
Absolutely.
Eryka V (00:24:45):
The normalization of so many things is exactly why we're so disconnected as a
Eryka V (00:24:50):
society,
Eryka V (00:24:51):
exactly why usually folks don't feel like they have a community,
Eryka V (00:24:56):
why there are so many things to consume.
Eryka V (00:25:01):
We're just so disconnected from nature,
Eryka V (00:25:03):
from Mother Earth,
Eryka V (00:25:04):
from our people,
Eryka V (00:25:05):
from each other,
Eryka V (00:25:06):
from love.
Eryka V (00:25:09):
Like we're so disconnected from love,
Eryka V (00:25:11):
just that ourselves and grieving the loss of who we are as society.
Eryka V (00:25:16):
It's because the normalization of like, hey, you know what?
Eryka V (00:25:19):
You're feeling like crap.
Eryka V (00:25:20):
You had a long day.
Eryka V (00:25:22):
It's not even just happy hour.
Eryka V (00:25:24):
That's like one of the things folks have normalized.
Eryka V (00:25:26):
Had a long day, go online shopping.
Eryka V (00:25:29):
Had a long day, have this greasy food.
Eryka V (00:25:32):
Had a long day, you know what?
Eryka V (00:25:34):
Binge on this, you know,
Rachel C (00:25:37):
I deserve it.
Eryka V (00:25:38):
Everything versus had a long day.
Eryka V (00:25:41):
Maybe you should just rest.
Eryka V (00:25:43):
What about that?
Eryka V (00:25:44):
Letting time pass.
Eryka V (00:25:45):
Just rest.
Eryka V (00:25:45):
Take a damn nap.
Eryka V (00:25:47):
Imagine that.
Eryka V (00:25:47):
No one ever tells anyone, you should just rest.
Eryka V (00:25:50):
Take a nap.
Eryka V (00:25:51):
Sleep.
Eryka V (00:25:52):
Relax.
Eryka V (00:25:54):
Or I'm not feeling well.
Eryka V (00:25:57):
I feel like I need some energy versus have a coffee or have the Celsius or Monster.
Eryka V (00:26:02):
Work out.
Eryka V (00:26:03):
Have a walk.
Eryka V (00:26:04):
The normalization of things, we're up against all odds.
Eryka V (00:26:08):
And all of us,
Eryka V (00:26:08):
what we don't realize is that it's all of us,
Eryka V (00:26:11):
but some of us think due to our proximity to power or our proximity to funds or our
Eryka V (00:26:16):
proximity to this or that,
Eryka V (00:26:18):
that we're exempt,
Eryka V (00:26:18):
but we're not.
Rachel C (00:26:19):
yeah it's hard to avoid at some point and i have a five-year-old right now i feel
Rachel C (00:26:26):
like i've grown up in sobriety with him because we've tried to start teaching him
Rachel C (00:26:31):
yeah hey when you're angry like cool you feel your anger i know for me growing up
Rachel C (00:26:36):
it was go go away go to your room don't be angry in the public area like you go do
Rachel C (00:26:42):
you go isolate that you come back out here when you're in a good mood so true
Rachel C (00:26:46):
I would never,
Rachel C (00:26:47):
I try to tell my son like,
Rachel C (00:26:48):
Hey,
Rachel C (00:26:48):
listen,
Rachel C (00:26:49):
I'm going to sit here with you and you can be all mad.
Rachel C (00:26:51):
Now,
Rachel C (00:26:52):
if you don't know if he hits or tries to hit me or something like that,
Rachel C (00:26:55):
I'm like that now you're not safe.
Rachel C (00:26:56):
You can be all angry, but are you hungry?
Rachel C (00:26:58):
Do you need a nap?
Rachel C (00:27:00):
Do you need to drink a water?
Rachel C (00:27:01):
Can you go outside?
Rachel C (00:27:03):
But I connect it because that's what I do.
Rachel C (00:27:05):
And I feel I'm like, it's 20 years of training of go away.
Rachel C (00:27:10):
Don't,
Rachel C (00:27:10):
if you don't,
Rachel C (00:27:11):
if you're not in your best mood or you're not have something nice to say,
Rachel C (00:27:14):
don't come to the table.
Rachel C (00:27:16):
That's not how we're raising our son.
Rachel C (00:27:18):
And it's cool because you see the authentic when he really enjoys something or when
Rachel C (00:27:24):
it's,
Rachel C (00:27:24):
eh,
Rachel C (00:27:24):
that's okay.
Rachel C (00:27:25):
But he knows how to sit in his feelings.
Rachel C (00:27:27):
And that's something I hope the next generation does have.
Rachel C (00:27:30):
Cause I'm learning.
Rachel C (00:27:32):
with him right now it's beautiful i tell him i'm like i snap dude your your nana is
Rachel C (00:27:39):
not the same way she was today so like if we're being real i'm like nana would have
Rachel C (00:27:47):
spanked you and put you in a corner so
Rachel C (00:27:51):
but yeah it's just very very different so what do you see happening or have you
Rachel C (00:27:56):
seen over the last three years i've seen i feel like a shift you were two three
Rachel C (00:28:01):
years sober when you started
Rachel C (00:28:03):
Namaari.
Rachel C (00:28:04):
Yes.
Rachel C (00:28:04):
Yeah.
Rachel C (00:28:05):
I feel like that's like our, that's the, where you start to feel like, okay, I can not drink.
Rachel C (00:28:11):
And like,
Rachel C (00:28:12):
I think you do learn that,
Rachel C (00:28:13):
uh,
Rachel C (00:28:14):
the fear of,
Rachel C (00:28:15):
and now I'm like,
Rachel C (00:28:16):
if someone asks me what I'm like,
Rachel C (00:28:17):
you don't worry about what I'm drinking.
Rachel C (00:28:19):
Like, how about you worry about yourself?
Rachel C (00:28:20):
Like, I don't care.
Rachel C (00:28:21):
Like, I'm, I,
Rachel C (00:28:23):
I do remember getting chastised and it was so bad that we got sober the week of
Rachel C (00:28:29):
Thanksgiving and everyone thought I was pregnant.
Rachel C (00:28:32):
They were like, the only way Rachel wouldn't drink is if she was pregnant.
Rachel C (00:28:35):
And I'm like, no.
Rachel C (00:28:37):
And I don't even know if people have to deal with that still.
Rachel C (00:28:39):
People do.
Rachel C (00:28:40):
where's that that same like thought like is the only reason for me not to drink is
Rachel C (00:28:46):
that i'd be pregnant like i can't just not drink to but that's the kind i was an
Rachel C (00:28:51):
alcoholic i mean no i think you couldn't see racial without
Eryka V (00:28:55):
A drink.
Eryka V (00:28:56):
Yeah, like that's who you were.
Eryka V (00:28:58):
But I think that society,
Eryka V (00:28:59):
like,
Eryka V (00:28:59):
I mean,
Eryka V (00:29:01):
when people say they've stopped drinking,
Eryka V (00:29:02):
it's always like,
Eryka V (00:29:03):
what happened?
Eryka V (00:29:04):
I'm like, I didn't kill anybody.
Eryka V (00:29:05):
There wasn't a DU.
Eryka V (00:29:06):
Like,
Eryka V (00:29:06):
I always have,
Eryka V (00:29:07):
I tell people like,
Eryka V (00:29:09):
I should be asking you what happened that you haven't stopped.
Eryka V (00:29:12):
Like, you know, it's again, normalization, the response from people that like love us too.
Eryka V (00:29:20):
They're doing their best.
Eryka V (00:29:21):
But that is what society has normalized.
Eryka V (00:29:24):
Their response to,
Eryka V (00:29:25):
I've said I'm not drinking and oh my gosh,
Eryka V (00:29:30):
my family,
Eryka V (00:29:31):
my dearest little family.
Eryka V (00:29:33):
Like, why?
Eryka V (00:29:34):
Like you would have thought I said like,
Eryka V (00:29:37):
I'm getting rid of,
Eryka V (00:29:38):
you know,
Eryka V (00:29:39):
like,
Eryka V (00:29:40):
like doing something drastic instead of like,
Eryka V (00:29:43):
congratulations.
Eryka V (00:29:45):
And you know what?
Eryka V (00:29:46):
I like,
Eryka V (00:29:47):
People can tell me things that they do.
Eryka V (00:29:50):
I don't like question the why.
Eryka V (00:29:52):
It's like we have a craving to understand, to then make it okay.
Eryka V (00:29:59):
And that is a problem with society too.
Eryka V (00:30:01):
You do not have to understand everything for it to be okay in your eyes.
Eryka V (00:30:06):
If it is good for that person and that is what serves them and they feel great, then hey,
Eryka V (00:30:11):
Congratulations.
Rachel C (00:30:13):
I'm like, kudos to them.
Rachel C (00:30:14):
Yeah.
Rachel C (00:30:15):
I don't need to be like, how, why did you stop?
Rachel C (00:30:17):
Who, what happened?
Rachel C (00:30:19):
Well, I mean, we get that a lot.
Rachel C (00:30:21):
So Colin and I, we have the same sobriety date.
Rachel C (00:30:23):
Oh,
Rachel C (00:30:24):
we're both so that people always what happened what did who went to jail who got
Rachel C (00:30:29):
i'm like no well i mean you have a husband and wife getting sober things are like p
Rachel C (00:30:34):
thing and no cops are cops are not that day cops are not called and i got loud when
Rachel C (00:30:38):
i was drunk and i like to throw things oh i love that too i mean that's just but i
Eryka V (00:30:43):
found out that's not just alcohol that's deeper alcohol brought it out man i i
Rachel C (00:30:49):
don't know i don't think i've got i
Rachel C (00:30:52):
to be rowdy well nothing like i'm trying to think the last thing i threw and i
Rachel C (00:30:57):
can't tell you so that's a good it's a good sign that is good good yeah no i can't
Rachel C (00:31:03):
remember but i still i get bursts of anger i think though with meditation i try to
Rachel C (00:31:09):
now say okay this is how anger i'm experiencing anger
Rachel C (00:31:14):
versus like it has to be my whole identity i can experience something without being
Rachel C (00:31:20):
it so how do you feel in the alcohol free community i saw that you guys what have
Eryka V (00:31:24):
like three or four stores now we're multiple states we self-distribute we're we're
Eryka V (00:31:29):
not in some what is it some penthouse boardroom or some corporate place it's it's
Eryka V (00:31:36):
us it's we're small business we are
Eryka V (00:31:41):
doing the thing ourselves.
Eryka V (00:31:43):
And in the NA space, we share it with all our friends.
Eryka V (00:31:46):
We share it with the places we enjoy, the restaurants.
Eryka V (00:31:49):
I, for example, love Californios.
Eryka V (00:31:52):
It is the only Mexican Michelin rated restaurant, unfortunately.
Eryka V (00:31:56):
I go to places that, again, it's a whole experience.
Eryka V (00:32:00):
It's not just what they're serving, but it's how, what they are doing in this world.
Eryka V (00:32:04):
And usually we align.
Eryka V (00:32:05):
And so I take it to places I frequent and I am grateful enough that those places
Eryka V (00:32:10):
then want to serve it.
Eryka V (00:32:12):
They do that.
Eryka V (00:32:13):
And so we're in bars, we're in clubs.
Eryka V (00:32:16):
We're in music venues.
Eryka V (00:32:18):
That's super cool because we both love music.
Eryka V (00:32:22):
We adore music.
Eryka V (00:32:23):
Music is something that has held us both in all spaces and places of our lives.
Eryka V (00:32:28):
We're in a Michelin rated restaurant.
Eryka V (00:32:31):
I say that because we are
Eryka V (00:32:34):
everywhere and anywhere that connects with what we're trying to do.
Eryka V (00:32:39):
And Nomari isn't just a non-alcoholic Amaro that was made because there was a trend
Eryka V (00:32:45):
happening and some investors gathered and decided to formulate something.
Eryka V (00:32:50):
It happened because there was this person with an amazing culinary background that missed having
Eryka V (00:32:58):
a decent damn drink that was NA.
Eryka V (00:33:02):
And so she created it.
Eryka V (00:33:04):
And then there was this other person that missed having something classy to drink
Eryka V (00:33:10):
in really great,
Eryka V (00:33:11):
vibrant spaces that could connect everyone.
Eryka V (00:33:14):
That's the beauty of some
Eryka V (00:33:16):
drinks, whether they have alcohol or not, like coffee.
Eryka V (00:33:19):
It's a ritual.
Eryka V (00:33:20):
You sip it with other people.
Eryka V (00:33:21):
You gather a nice pot of tea.
Eryka V (00:33:23):
You gather.
Eryka V (00:33:24):
Whether I drink champagne or not, I'm not going to dismiss what happens around champagne.
Eryka V (00:33:31):
Experiences matter.
Eryka V (00:33:32):
And so the other part of Namaari is the experience.
Eryka V (00:33:35):
Whether your friend drinks liquor, alcohol, or someone doesn't, Namaari can be enjoyed by both.
Eryka V (00:33:42):
It doesn't take out
Eryka V (00:33:45):
That, you know, if you're having Mezcal, you can mix it with Namari.
Eryka V (00:33:48):
Like it goes beautifully well.
Eryka V (00:33:50):
That's actually a drink.
Eryka V (00:33:51):
It's a Mezimeister.
Eryka V (00:33:52):
If you don't, you can have Namari on its own.
Eryka V (00:33:56):
You can sip Namari over sparkling.
Rachel C (00:33:58):
What is your favorite thing to mix it with?
Eryka V (00:34:00):
Ooh, for me, I'm going to have to go because I'm such a sucker.
Eryka V (00:34:03):
Namari is just amazing.
Eryka V (00:34:04):
What I love is that everyone assumes what it should go with.
Eryka V (00:34:08):
And then when I tell them some things, they're like, wait, what?
Eryka V (00:34:11):
You mix it with that?
Eryka V (00:34:12):
Pineapple juice goes amazing with pineapple juice.
Eryka V (00:34:14):
Goes amazing.
Eryka V (00:34:16):
Of course, favorite is always going to be alone, like by itself.
Eryka V (00:34:19):
Sip it over ice.
Eryka V (00:34:21):
Are you freaking kidding me?
Eryka V (00:34:22):
I want to see like anyone sip anything else over ice like that.
Eryka V (00:34:25):
Like it's just beautiful.
Eryka V (00:34:27):
It's like perfect bitter, perfect sweet.
Eryka V (00:34:31):
It tastes majestic.
Eryka V (00:34:32):
But anyway, that's just my, I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that the sage in it.
Eryka V (00:34:37):
And the bottle is beautiful.
Eryka V (00:34:38):
It has white sage in it.
Eryka V (00:34:39):
How many,
Eryka V (00:34:40):
like real white sage picked from a farm,
Eryka V (00:34:42):
like white sage,
Eryka V (00:34:44):
it creates this beautiful foam to it.
Eryka V (00:34:47):
I would say that my favorite though, lime, lime, like just a squeeze.
Eryka V (00:34:52):
I'll squeeze a whole lime with some Namaari, shake it with tons of ice, and I have my own vibe.
Eryka V (00:34:57):
I'm in my own world.
Eryka V (00:34:58):
And whenever I serve that, I know it's good because the first sip, everybody's just quiet.
Eryka V (00:35:03):
They're like, what is this?
Eryka V (00:35:04):
So yeah, Namaari, I went on a tangent because I got lost.
Eryka V (00:35:08):
in how beautiful and how much care there is i think that's like a huge thing too
Eryka V (00:35:13):
that namari it's there's a story in there and it's it's not for everyone like and
Eryka V (00:35:17):
we get that it's not for everyone just like usually amaro is not something
Eryka V (00:35:22):
everybody drinks whether it has alcohol or not and so i think that when namari
Eryka V (00:35:27):
finds finds you and you're someone that loves to drink that you are taken taken
Eryka V (00:35:33):
back you're like whoa
Eryka V (00:35:35):
this it's interesting right now i'm having it in my iced latte it's a little iced
Eryka V (00:35:39):
tomorrow latte i have my namari in there yeah it's it's delish i mean i could have
Rachel C (00:35:45):
it with coffee have it with so many things yeah that's so i'll kind of wrap it up
Rachel C (00:35:50):
but how you pick the fresh ingredients how do you go about choosing vendors and who
Eryka V (00:35:55):
you work with i mean we don't
Eryka V (00:35:58):
change we have the white sage and our lemon verbena and lavender from our same farm
Eryka V (00:36:06):
you know britney thought of these things not just like overnight didn't just pay
Eryka V (00:36:11):
somebody to figure out a great recipe those were things that came from her culinary
Eryka V (00:36:16):
experience she has a great culinary background and again that's that's in its own
Eryka V (00:36:21):
art she honed into her art and she made
Eryka V (00:36:24):
something happen and we haven't changed anything.
Eryka V (00:36:28):
We don't switch vendors.
Eryka V (00:36:29):
We don't say, hey, this place can make it quicker and better and slick this out and this in.
Eryka V (00:36:36):
That's just not where we're at right now.
Eryka V (00:36:38):
When people buy our bottle, they're literally supporting us.
Eryka V (00:36:42):
They're not supporting a big corporation behind another brand.
Eryka V (00:36:46):
They're not supporting some corporation that actually focuses on alcohol and just
Eryka V (00:36:51):
invested in an NA because it's a trend.
Eryka V (00:36:54):
They're investing in two people that want to make this world a better place and
Eryka V (00:36:59):
think that just because you don't drink alcohol does not mean that you don't
Eryka V (00:37:03):
deserve a damn good drink.
Eryka V (00:37:05):
No booze, but it's all bite.
Eryka V (00:37:06):
Like it is a good... No booze, all bite.
Rachel C (00:37:10):
It is...
Eryka V (00:37:11):
It is damn good.
Eryka V (00:37:12):
It is damn good.
Eryka V (00:37:13):
And just because there's no liquor,
Eryka V (00:37:15):
like I'm tired of not having good drinks just because there's not liquor in it.
Eryka V (00:37:20):
I deserve a damn good drink.
Rachel C (00:37:22):
Yes.
Rachel C (00:37:23):
And it doesn't have to be because you had a bad day.
Rachel C (00:37:26):
It can be just because you're in the mood for a really good drink.
Eryka V (00:37:29):
And it should make me feel freaking great.
Eryka V (00:37:31):
And Namari does.
Eryka V (00:37:32):
Like, oh, I just had a great meal.
Eryka V (00:37:33):
Let me have some Namari after.
Eryka V (00:37:35):
I'm feeling light in my feet.
Eryka V (00:37:37):
I'm feeling good in my soul.
Eryka V (00:37:39):
I'm cleansing out any cucaracha energy because I have sage in it.
Eryka V (00:37:42):
Like get all the bad juju away.
Eryka V (00:37:44):
You know, we're doing good things.
Rachel C (00:37:46):
I love it.
Rachel C (00:37:47):
I love it.
Rachel C (00:37:47):
Well, how do people find you?
Rachel C (00:37:49):
Can you order it?
Eryka V (00:37:50):
You can order it online.
Eryka V (00:37:52):
Anywhere?
Eryka V (00:37:52):
Yes.
Eryka V (00:37:52):
You can support, you know, a small business.
Eryka V (00:37:57):
It is BIPOC owned.
Eryka V (00:37:58):
It is woman owned.
Eryka V (00:38:00):
It is LGBTQIA plus owned.
Eryka V (00:38:02):
I don't think you can say that about many NAs out there.
Eryka V (00:38:06):
So you're truly supporting a movement and we're against all odds here.
Eryka V (00:38:11):
You can order it on drinknamari.com.
Eryka V (00:38:14):
You can also find us on IG, drinknamari.
Eryka V (00:38:17):
And yeah, that's, I mean, I hope we can connect.
Eryka V (00:38:21):
I really do.
Eryka V (00:38:22):
I think that we have some beautiful things coming.
Eryka V (00:38:25):
They're all not with the sense of urgency from a corporate perspective, but a sense of impact.
Eryka V (00:38:33):
We want to make good things.
Eryka V (00:38:35):
We want people to feel good when they sip what they're sipping.
Eryka V (00:38:38):
And we want people to feel the love that we put into things and realize that,
Eryka V (00:38:43):
that it's more about what we're making for people and how we make you feel versus
Eryka V (00:38:48):
another skew,
Eryka V (00:38:50):
another this,
Eryka V (00:38:51):
another marketing tactic to just reel you in and fill another investor's dollar.
Eryka V (00:38:56):
100%.
Rachel C (00:38:57):
And I love that.
Rachel C (00:38:59):
How did you come up with the naming?
Rachel C (00:39:01):
So...
Eryka V (00:39:04):
Amari is like Amaro's,
Eryka V (00:39:06):
you know,
Eryka V (00:39:07):
multiple and putting the N in front of it for non-alcoholic Amari.
Rachel C (00:39:12):
Oh, I love that.
Rachel C (00:39:13):
Yes.
Eryka V (00:39:14):
Yes.
Eryka V (00:39:14):
I'm telling you when there's,
Eryka V (00:39:15):
when there's like a lot of love behind things,
Eryka V (00:39:17):
there's some cute inside stories that we always think about.
Eryka V (00:39:21):
Like, how do we get these out to people?
Eryka V (00:39:23):
Again,
Eryka V (00:39:23):
these things aren't created in some penthouse boardroom with some pressure of 30
Eryka V (00:39:27):
day deadline.
Eryka V (00:39:28):
This is really just me and Brittany like connecting and,
Eryka V (00:39:32):
seeing how the world moves and what we want to make for the world and what people
Rachel C (00:39:36):
deserve that's so cool and i i will i i promise i will be ordering it well we've
Rachel C (00:39:43):
had a lot of different directions is this and we have lots of ways to connect is
Rachel C (00:39:47):
there anything else you'd like to promote or say or any message you feel wants to
Eryka V (00:39:53):
get across on sober banter no i think just be kind be
Eryka V (00:39:58):
You know,
Eryka V (00:39:58):
move with love and move with intention and never think that just because we don't
Eryka V (00:40:05):
drink or we are sober,
Eryka V (00:40:06):
that that automatically makes us a good person.
Eryka V (00:40:09):
We still need to tap into love.
Eryka V (00:40:12):
We still need to be kind.
Eryka V (00:40:14):
We still need to care about how we move in this world.
Eryka V (00:40:17):
Just because we stop drinking doesn't mean those things automatically happen through us.
Rachel C (00:40:24):
100%.
Rachel C (00:40:25):
It's all,
Rachel C (00:40:25):
I think my word of the day is definitely like intention and going forth with what I
Rachel C (00:40:31):
intend to do and how I intend to consume it.
Rachel C (00:40:34):
Because I definitely think I have work to do on that.
Rachel C (00:40:37):
And I'm not going to lie.
Rachel C (00:40:39):
I think we all fall into our own little different things,
Rachel C (00:40:42):
but it's the awakening and the awareness that matter,
Rachel C (00:40:44):
right?
Eryka V (00:40:45):
Or we'd all be floating in the sky right now.
Rachel C (00:40:48):
I'm glad I'm exactly where I am and I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
Rachel C (00:40:53):
And that's where I learned not to regret my past because without all of those
Rachel C (00:40:59):
dominoes,
Rachel C (00:41:00):
I'm not sitting in this chair right now.
Rachel C (00:41:02):
And I'm also not going to think about where I'm at tomorrow because I'm not there yet.
Rachel C (00:41:05):
so yeah the slow down the intentions the pace i love it all right this has been
Rachel C (00:41:11):
amazing thank you erica so much for coming on i will have all links and bios and
Rachel C (00:41:17):
i'm already excited i have a few people in mind i'm like oh i already have a few
Rachel C (00:41:20):
spots with people in dallas that i would love to oh that's so sweet yeah let me
Eryka V (00:41:26):
know i love you i'm grateful that you
Eryka V (00:41:30):
you know, have that like want to do that.
Eryka V (00:41:33):
And so I'm grateful.
Eryka V (00:41:34):
Thank you.
Rachel C (00:41:35):
It can be real simple.
Eryka V (00:41:37):
Well, I appreciate it.
Rachel C (00:41:38):
Again, thank you so much.