04/13/2026
In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Shoulakโauthor, mental health advocate, and remote HR professionalโto talk about her upcoming memoir on death, grief, and the messy, real parts of healing that no one wants to say out loud.
Sarah opens up about quitting drinking at 27, breaking free from people-pleasing patterns, and why she decided to write a brutally honest memoir at 35 instead of waiting until she's "old enough" to have it all figured out. We dig into the shame that keeps us stuck, the trap of high-achieving while secretly struggling, and how to stop living by "everybody just" excuses that don't actually serve you.
This conversation gets real about:
Why sobriety and boundaries don't have an age requirement
How to recognize when "cool" relationships are actually draining you
The difference between authentic happiness and toxic positivity
Processing grief and trauma through creativity and humor
Why sitting in silence is where the answers actually come from
If you've ever felt like you're doing everything "right" on paper while quietly falling apart, or if you're tired of performing for people who wouldn't show up for you, this one's for you.
Sarah's memoir, ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด: ๐๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฉ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ข๐ต ๐๐ช๐ง๐ฆ, releases April 17th. Find her at sarahmarieshulak.com or on Instagram .
Full episode: Healing Through Humor: A Memoir on Grief, Sobriety & Shame with
๐ง Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube โ fineletstalk.riverside.com
