Ep 92 - What if you love Jesus, serve in your church, and still can't stop drinking? In the first part of this personal conversation, Rose Ann Forte sits down with certified Choose Freedom® coach Amy Edwards to share more of the story behind her work. She was leading women's ministries, teaching Bible studies, and caring for the sick and dying while privately struggling with alcohol. Rose Ann describes starting cigarettes and alcohol at thirteen, eventually smoking two to three packs a day, and noticing her reliance on alcohol grow after she stopped smoking. She also shares the cycle she knew so well: waking up with consequences, promising not to drink, and believing by evening that this time she could stop at one glass. Together, Rose Ann and Amy discuss the guilt of breaking promises to God, the fear of being labeled, and why it was so difficult to tell a pastor or counselor the truth. Rose Ann honors the help many people find through twelve-step communities while explaining her own hesitation to seek that kind of support. The conversation ends with the health fears that moved Rose Ann toward change in early 2020, her decision to try a ninety-day coaching challenge, and a prayer for anyone feeling ashamed or discouraged. Part 2 continues with what helped her change and the life she once struggled to imagine. In this episode · Serving in church while hiding a struggle with alcohol · Starting smoking and drinking at thirteen · How Rose Ann's reliance on substances changed over time · Morning promises, evening bargaining, and "just one glass" · What Rose Ann believed God thought of her · How fear of labels made asking for help harder · The decision to consider a ninety-day challenge · A closing prayer for courage, hope, and compassionate support Interviewer: Amy Edwards, certified Choose Freedom® coach and co-host of Alcohol Free Marriage and More with her husband, Matt. Episode links and resources Connect with Amy Edwards Amy Edwards coaching Alcohol Free Marriage and More podcast Related conversation Rose Ann's original interview with Pastor Jack Hawkins Choose Freedom resources Prepare to Quit The Plans He Has for Me Transformed by His Promises Explore Choose Freedom® Free resources Find a Choose Freedom® provider Follow Say Goodbye and Imagine! so you don't miss Part 2 and future conversations about faith, freedom, and lasting transformation. If this episode encouraged you, please share it with someone who may need it. If you may be physically dependent on alcohol, seek medical advice before stopping or cutting back. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous. This podcast and coaching do not replace medical care.
Oct 19
31 min
Ep 91 - What happens after you quit drinking and discover that alcohol was only one part of the problem? Award-winning musician, author, and radio host Cliff Beach appeared successful, confident, and creative. Behind that public image, however, he was struggling with unresolved trauma, alcohol, and unhealthy coping patterns. After being diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, Cliff began examining the chain reaction created by drinking. Late nights led to eating, poor sleep, low energy, and missed exercise. He decided alcohol was the first thing that needed to go. Becoming alcohol-free improved Cliff's health and clarity, but it also revealed the deeper work waiting beneath the behavior. In this honest conversation, Cliff and Rose Ann discuss his fear that quitting drinking would diminish his creativity, the invisible tipping point when alcohol begins controlling you, and the emotional pain he could no longer avoid. Cliff shares how faith, therapy, Celebrate Recovery, music, and supportive community helped him address his trauma. He also explains how he recognized emotional eating as another learned coping mechanism. His story reminds us that quitting drinking can remove one behavior, but lasting change requires us to understand what we were asking alcohol to do for us. Connect With Cliff Beach Cliff Beach is an award-winning musician, author, radio host, speaker, and business executive whose work brings together creativity, entrepreneurship, wellness, and personal development. Visit Side Hustle & Flow Find Cliff Beach's books on Amazon Listen to Deeper Grooves on The SoCal Sound Follow Cliff on social media: @cliffbeachmusic Choose Freedom® Resources If alcohol or another life-interfering behavior is keeping you from the life God created you to live, these resources can help you prepare for change and begin practicing a new way forward: Prepare to Quit The Plans He Has for Me Transformed by His Promises Explore Choose Freedom® Follow Say Goodbye and Imagine! for more conversations about faith, freedom, and lasting transformation. If this episode encouraged you, please share it with someone who may need it. #QuitDrinking #AlcoholFree #FaithAndFreedom #TraumaHealing #LastingChange #ChristianPodcast #ChooseFreedom #CliffBeach
Oct 5
25 min
Ep 90 - Can God use suffering to make you stronger? Finding purpose in suffering does not mean pretending the pain was good, denying what happened, or remaining in a destructive situation. It means recognizing that suffering can interrupt our automatic responses and create an opportunity for God to refine us, redirect us, and use what we have learned to help someone else. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte explores the connection between biblical wisdom, neuroscience, and the refining influence of suffering. She explains how painful consequences can interrupt the brain's familiar patterns and give us an opportunity to pause, examine what is happening, and make a more intentional choice. Rose Ann also shares the deeply personal conversation that inspired her to write The Plans He Has for Me. What began as a painful accusation from a trusted Christian friend became the catalyst for a devotional that has now helped thousands of people recognize that science does not replace Scripture. It helps us understand the wisdom God gave us first. Through Paul's illustrations of the focused soldier, disciplined athlete, and patient farmer in 2 Timothy 2:3–6, you will discover how suffering can develop endurance, character, hope, and Kingdom purpose. Rose Ann concludes with three questions to help you examine your automatic responses and consider how God might eventually use what you are learning to serve someone else. Scripture Featured in This Episode 2 Timothy 2:3–6 NLT Romans 5:3–5 NLT Romans 8:28 NIV 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV Romans 12:2 NIV 1 Timothy 4:15 ESV 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 NLT Resources from Rose Ann Prepare to Quit https://amzn.to/4umJs6l The Plans He Has for Me https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL Transformed by His Promises https://amzn.to/43PWhvf Choose Freedom® books, program, and coaching https://choosefreedom.today If this episode encouraged you, please follow and rate Say Goodbye and Imagine! and share it with someone who may be wondering whether God can still use their story. If one of Rose Ann's books has helped you, please consider leaving a rating or review on Amazon. Your review helps another person discover the same encouragement and support. #ChristianPodcast #FindingPurposeInSuffering #FaithAndNeuroscience #RenewYourMind #ChooseFreedom
Sep 21
24 min
Ep 89 - Have you ever returned to a substance, thought pattern, emotional response, or behavior you promised yourself you would change and immediately thought, "I did it again"? In this episode, Rose Ann Forte and therapist Aliza Prokop explore how shame keeps us stuck by turning a painful choice or experience into a verdict about who we are. Aliza describes shame as a self-evaluation that leaves us feeling unworthy or inadequate. She explains how trauma, negative self-talk, social comparison, and unresolved pain can contribute to hiding and keep us returning to familiar patterns that temporarily offer relief. Drawing from her experience as a certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy specialist, Aliza shares why understanding what happened to us can replace blame with compassion. But compassion does not remove responsibility. As Aliza says: "What happened to you isn't your fault. The healing is your responsibility." Rose Ann and Aliza also discuss why learning how the brain responds to trauma can restore hope, why safe and supportive relationships are essential, and how prayer, Scripture, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and repeated practice can help us interrupt the shame cycle. Romans 8:1 reminds us that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 12:2 reminds us that transformation happens through the renewal of our minds. "I did it again" does not have to be the end of our story. In this episode: What shame is and how it attacks our identity Why social comparison can deepen shame How trauma and unresolved pain influence negative self-talk Why shame makes healing and change more difficult The difference between compassion and making excuses Why supportive relationships and qualified professional care matter How understanding the brain can replace hopelessness with hope Why renewing the mind requires testing, repetition, and practice How faith and the Holy Spirit help us discern the next right step Learn more about Aliza: Aliza M. Prokop Counseling Services: https://ampcounseling.com/ The AMPcast with Aliza M. Prokop: https://ampcounseling.com/podcast/ Choose Freedom resources: Choose Freedom Program, providers, and coaching: https://choosefreedom.today/directory/ Transformed by His Promises: https://choosefreedom.today/books/transformed-by-his-promises/ Prepare to Quit: https://choosefreedom.today/books/prepare-to-quit/ The Plans He Has For Me: https://choosefreedom.today/books/the-plans-he-has-for-me/ Explore the Say Goodbye and Imagine podcast: https://choosefreedom.today/podcast/ #ChristianPodcast #ShameAndHealing #FaithAndMentalHealth #TraumaHealing #RenewYourMind #ChooseFreedom
Sep 7
30 min
Ep 88 - How do we let go of bitterness without excusing what happened or allowing an unsafe person back into our lives? In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte speaks with licensed clinical therapist Sue Warwick about the difference between legitimate anger and bitterness, how unresolved hurt affects our thoughts and relationships, and why we may turn to alcohol or other unhealthy habits for temporary relief. Sue brings more than 40 years of counseling experience to a conversation about the physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual consequences of allowing bitterness to take root. She explains why forgiveness does not require restored trust, why healthy boundaries may still be necessary, and how turning to God can help us pause before responding from anger. Rose Ann also shares how the brain learns to connect painful emotions with the behaviors we repeatedly use to escape them. Alcohol, food, work, control, isolation, or another life-interfering behavior may provide temporary relief, but as Sue says, "It takes more than it gives." Together, Rose Ann and Sue explore: When legitimate anger begins developing into bitterness How unresolved pain can influence substance use and other habits Why old wounds can make us more reactive The difference between forgiveness, reconciliation, and restored trust How to "practice the pause" and respond differently Why renewing our minds requires replacing old responses with healthier ones Featured Scriptures include Hebrews 12:15, Ephesians 4:31–32, and Romans 12:2. Releasing bitterness does not mean the offense no longer matters. It means the offense no longer gets to determine how we think, how we live, how we treat others, or what we reach for to cope. RESOURCES Learn more about Sue Warwick: suebwarwick.com Find Winning Women: Becoming a Woman of Resilience by Sue Warwick Find accountability through a Choose Freedom® coach BOOKS BY ROSE ANN FORTE Prepare to Quit The Plans He Has for Me Transformed by His Promises #LetGoOfBitterness #ChristianHealing #Forgiveness #RenewYourMind #ChooseFreedom
Aug 24
24 min
87 - Why do so many Christians hide their deepest struggles from the very people who should be helping them heal? The Church should be one of the safest places to admit that we are broken. Yet Christians struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression, sexual integrity, eating disorders, and other life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors may sit in church believing they can't tell anyone what's really happening. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte talks with Jolie Vogliardo, author of America: The Sleeping Giant and Her Slumbering Church, about shame, spiritual awakening, and what it would look like for the Church to become a safer place for people who are struggling. Jolie candidly shares from her own past and the shame she experienced, raising a question many people silently carry: If people really knew me and what I've done, would they still love and accept me? Together, Rose Ann and Jolie explore why shame causes people to hide, the difference between God's loving conviction and condemnation, and how to identify someone safe enough to trust with your struggle. The conversation also leads to an important realization: The Church isn't just the pastor or the people on staff. We are the Church. That means each of us has an opportunity to become a safe person who responds to another person's struggle with truth, grace, compassion, and love. If you're carrying something you're ashamed to tell anyone, this conversation is for you. And if someone has trusted you with their struggle, it's for you too. Connect with Jolie Vogliardo Jolie Vogliardo is the author of America: The Sleeping Giant and Her Slumbering Church, winner of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association Golden Scroll Award for Nonfiction Book of the Year. Jolie's website: Www.pursueholiness.com America: The Sleeping Giant and Her Slumbering Church: https://amzn.to/4z3DPgX Resources from Rose Ann Forte Prepare to Quit: https://amzn.to/4umJs6l The Plans He Has for Me: https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL Transformed by His Promises: https://amzn.to/43PWhvf Choose Freedom®: https://choosefreedom.today If this episode encouraged you, please follow Say Goodbye and Imagine!, share it with someone who may need to hear it, and leave a review. Your support helps more people discover a message of hope and freedom. Hashtags: #ChristianPodcast #ChristianLiving #FaithAndHealing #Shame #ChurchAndAddiction #ChooseFreedom
Aug 10
21 min
Ep 86 - What if the painful seasons of your life could lead to greater wisdom, transformation, and purpose? In Ecclesiastes 7:3–4, we're told that sorrow has a refining influence on us and that a wise person thinks about death. At first, those words may sound discouraging, but they point to a surprisingly hopeful truth: pain can interrupt our autopilot, cause us to reflect on where our choices are taking us, and help us reconsider what truly matters. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte explores the biblical wisdom and science behind sorrow, reflection, and transformation. She shares how some of the most painful experiences in her own life became catalysts for meaningful change and examines the concepts of post-traumatic growth and meaning-making after difficult experiences. You'll also discover why our instinct to numb uncomfortable emotions through alcohol, substances, life-interfering behaviors, or distractions can sometimes keep us from recognizing what our pain may be trying to show us. Through the stories of Peter, the prodigal son, and King Manasseh, Rose Ann explores a pattern we see throughout Scripture: painful circumstances can get our attention, but pain alone does not necessarily transform us. Transformation can begin when we stop, become aware, reflect on what has happened, seek God's truth, and make a different choice about what comes next. Finally, we explore the surprising second half of Ecclesiastes 7:4: Why does a wise person think about death? Because remembering that our days are limited can clarify how we want to live them. What kind of person are you becoming? What story is your life telling? What will your legacy be? And are the choices you're making today leading you toward the life and purpose God has for you? Stay until the end for three powerful reflection questions and a closing prayer. Featured Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7:3–4 (NLT) Related Episode: Episode #79, Why We Wait for Pain to Change: The Story of Manasseh Rose Ann explores the story of King Manasseh and why sometimes it takes painful consequences to finally get our attention and move us toward change. Featured Resource: Prepare to Quit If you find yourself repeatedly turning to alcohol or another substance to numb uncomfortable emotions, but you aren't sure you're ready to quit, Prepare to Quit was created for this very stage of the journey. It helps you step back, honestly evaluate where you are, and prepare yourself to make a confident decision about what comes next. https://amzn.to/4umJs6l Additional Resources: The Plans He Has for Me A 12-week devotional for those seeking freedom from alcohol through biblical wisdom and daily reflection. https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL Transformed by His Promises For anyone seeking freedom from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors through God's promises and practical action. https://amzn.to/43PWhvf Find additional resources and learn more about Choose Freedom at: https://choosefreedom.today
Jul 27
16 min
Ep 85 - How much of your life is shaped by what other people think? Most of us have experienced the fear of criticism, rejection, or not fitting in. Sometimes it keeps us from speaking up. Sometimes it causes us to hide our gifts. And sometimes it influences life-changing decisions without us even realizing it. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte explores Proverbs 29:25 and the warning that "fearing people is a dangerous trap." Through the story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15, you'll discover how approval-seeking can lead us away from God's best and why learning to trust God more than human opinion leads to true freedom. You'll also learn the neuroscience behind why rejection hurts, why our brains crave acceptance, and how renewing your mind helps you make decisions based on God's purpose instead of other people's approval. In this episode, you'll discover: Why the fear of people's opinions can become a dangerous trap. What King Saul's story teaches us about approval-seeking. The neuroscience of belonging, rejection, and peer pressure. Why conformity often competes with God's calling on your life. How Romans 12:2 provides the pathway to renewed thinking. Reflection questions to help you recognize whose voice is influencing your decisions. Featured Scriptures Proverbs 29:25 1 Samuel 15 Romans 12:2 Resources Choose Freedom® Program: https://choosefreedom.today/direct Choose Freedom®: https://choosefreedom.today Prepare to Quit: https://amzn.to/4umJs6l The Plans He Has For Me: https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL Transformed by His Promises: https://amzn.to/43PWhvf If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be struggling with the fear of other people's opinions.
Jul 13
15 min
Ep 84: What do you do when life doesn't go according to plan? In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte explores 1 Peter 4:12-13 and discusses why many people return to unhealthy habits during difficult seasons. Whether the struggle is alcohol, overeating, gambling, pornography, excessive screen time, avoidance, or another life-interfering behavior, stressful events often expose the coping strategies we have practiced for years. Many people point to a difficult circumstance as the reason they re-engaged in a behavior they wanted to leave behind: "I had a fight with my spouse." "I was lonely." "I was overwhelmed." "I got bad news." But what if the event wasn't the real reason? What if the event simply revealed what we were prepared to do when life became difficult? Drawing on biblical truth, neuroscience, and practical habit-change strategies, Rose Ann explains why the brain naturally defaults to familiar solutions during times of stress and how we can prepare ourselves to respond differently. You'll learn how to identify the lies that often precede unhealthy behaviors, renew your mind through intentional practice, and develop healthier responses before the next trial arrives. Most importantly, you'll be challenged to ask a different question. Not: "How do I make this feeling stop?" But: "Who do I want to become?" Because the goal is not simply to stop a behavior. The goal is to become the person God created you to be. In This Episode: Why Peter tells us not to be surprised by life's trials The common lies that often lead to unhealthy behaviors How stress activates familiar brain pathways What neuroscience teaches us about renewing the mind Why preparation matters more than willpower How to use your future identity to guide present decisions Practical alternatives when temptation strikes Featured Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT) Resources Mentioned Prepare to Quit https://amzn.to/4umJs6l The Plans He Has For Me https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL Transformed by His Promises https://amzn.to/43PWhvf Choose Freedom Resources https://choosefreedom.today If this episode encouraged you, please follow the podcast, share it with a friend, and consider leaving an honest review. Your support helps more people discover the hope, healing, and freedom that are possible through renewed thinking and faith in Christ.
Jun 22
19 min
Ep 83 - If you're searching for a stop drinking journal, trying to quit drinking, or questioning your relationship with alcohol, this episode will help you uncover the thoughts, beliefs, fears, and habits that may be keeping you stuck. In this episode of Say Goodbye and Imagine!, Rose Ann Forte shares 10 powerful reflection questions designed to help you gain awareness, challenge long-held assumptions, and prepare your mind for lasting change. Inspired by Philippians 4:8, these questions encourage listeners to focus on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable while examining their relationship with alcohol honestly and without shame. Whether you're exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle, considering sobriety, building healthier habits, or working through another life-interfering thought, emotion, or behavior, these questions can help you identify what alcohol promises, what it actually delivers, and what freedom could look like on the other side. In This Episode 10 powerful questions to ask before you quit drinking Why awareness often precedes lasting change How journaling can reveal hidden drinking patterns The connection between thoughts, habits, and behavior change What fear, identity, friendship, and shame have to do with alcohol use Why honest reflection is a critical part of renewing your mind How Philippians 4:8 provides a framework for focusing on truth Featured Scripture Philippians 4:8 (NLT) Mentioned in This Episode If today's questions sparked some honest reflection and you'd like to go deeper, explore these resources: Prepare to Quit: Finding the Keys to a Spirit-Filled Life Beyond Alcohol A practical guide designed to help people prepare mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for lasting change. Includes a downloadable workbook with additional reflection exercises and guided questions. https://amzn.to/4umJs6l Choose Freedom® Program A 12-week faith-based, neuroscience-informed program designed to help people break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. https://choosefreedom.today The Plans He Has For Me A 12-week devotional created to help people renew their minds and build an alcohol-free life through Scripture, reflection, prayer, and practical application. https://amzn.to/3Qk3MHL Transformed by His Promises A 12-week devotional that combines biblical wisdom and neuroscience to help readers overcome life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. https://amzn.to/43PWhvf Related Episode Compassion, Justice, and the Choices That Shape Generations - https://sites.libsyn.com/458844/compassion-justice-and-the-choices-that-shape-generations This episode explores how our choices influence future generations and why our habits matter more than we sometimes realize. Connect with Rose Ann Forte Website: https://choosefreedom.today Free Resources: https://choosefreedom.today/free-resources/ Articles: https://choosefreedom.today/articles/ Subscribe & Review If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and consider leaving an honest review. Your support helps us reach more people seeking freedom from alcohol and other life-interfering habits. #ChooseFreedom #QuitDrinking #AlcoholFree #ChristianRecovery #RenewYourMind
Jun 8
21 min
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