What happens when you’re excellent on paper—but falling apart in private?

In this episode, Anne and Chris sit down with Jessica Dueñas (Bottomless to Sober, former teacher, Kentucky State Teacher of the Year) for a conversation about body image, achievement, stigma, and the moment sobriety stopped being a “band-aid” and became a full identity rebuild. This is Clean Play game film for anyone who’s been praised for performance while quietly losing themselves.

Takeaways (5)Timestamps (3–6)Resources / Guest Links Mentioned:

• Achievement can’t heal old wounds—it can only distract you from them for a while.
  

• Alcohol doesn’t de-stress; it delays—and the bill shows up the next morning.
  

• Recovery needs the right fit: support that works for you beats shame-based “one way.”
  

• Medication isn’t a moral failure—it can be crutches while your nervous system heals.
  

• Worth is inherent: “Your sobriety does not determine your worth.” Full stop.
  

• [01:10] Meet Jessica + why this conversation matters
  

• [03:25] “Born to teach” + seeking affirmation outside the home
  

• [11:12] The stress of education: standards, systems, and no wiggle room
  

• [17:09] Trying to quit alone + why treatment became necessary
  

• [21:10] Building a recovery path that fits (therapy, medication, writing)
  

• [34:56] Worthiness, body image, and parenting without passing the shame down
  

• Jessica Dueñas: Bottomless to Sober (website + Substack + podcast)
  

• Instagram: @JessicaDuaneis24
  

• Mentioned: The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz)

  This Naked Mind (Annie Grace)
  

In this episode of Clean Play, Anne and Chris start with NFL chaos, grieving a tragic loss in the Cowboys organization, and end up exactly where they always do: life beyond the game. They talk about the pressure athletes feel to “play through the pain,” Anne’s three-year sobriety milestone and the moment she finally asked for help, and how alcohol quietly becomes a way to replay our old highlight reels. Then they pivot to Section Yellow at Lambeau Field, sober fan sections, and real-world tips for surviving your first (or fifth) sober Thanksgiving—without forfeiting football, family, or joy.

Takeaways and Timestamps

• Winning has to include your whole life, not just the game. If the only scoreboard you’re watching is performance, your mental health will always come second.
  

• Some things are not worth pushing through. The same mentality that gets athletes through injury can make it really hard to say “I’m not okay” out loud.
  

• Identity after sport is tender ground. When the jersey comes off—whether as a player or coach—alcohol can sneak in as a way to relive old highlight reels.
  

• Sober fans still belong. From Section Yellow at Lambeau to sober tailgates and NA beer at the bar, you don’t have to drink to be part of the moment.
  

• Holidays need game plans too. Time limits, movement, NA options, and post-holiday rewards can turn a dreaded Thanksgiving into a sober win.
  

• [00:00] Government names, Thanksgiving vibes, and NFL chaos this season
  

• [04:30] Grieving a Cowboys player’s death and the hidden cost of “just push through it”
  

• [11:30] Anne’s three years sober, depression after sport, and finally asking for help
  

• [21:00] Life beyond the game: when identity, alcohol, and old highlight reels collide
  

• [25:30] Section Yellow at Lambeau, sober tailgates, and belonging without booze
  [34:30] Real talk holiday coaching: sober Thanksgiving tips, boundaries, and permission

If you’ve ever felt that quiet “I think I might be done with this version of myself” moment — this one is for you. This episode hits the real tension: when your old role, your old grind, or your old identity stops serving you… and you can feel the pivot coming — but you don’t know what the next version looks like yet.

Episode Summary Anne and Chris talk honestly about retirement from a core identity — not just from sport, but from a chapter. We get into what it means to sunset a season with intention, what it means to pivot instead of cling, and how clarity (in alcohol-free life) makes that shift cleaner. We also unpack the WNBA Finals, Asia Wilson’s leadership, the illusion of fairness in sports betting, and the difference between chasing a hit vs building contentment. Keywords naturally integrated: life after sport, navigating identity shift, alcohol-free athlete.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why sunsetting a season is a power move, not giving up

• How Aja Wilson models leadership without hype

• Why sports betting is breaking fan trust

• What contentment actually looks like in the day-to-day

• How clarity in alcohol-free life supports smarter pivots

Listen in — this one hits deep and current.