#66: Care Deeply, Hold Lightly (Ft. Liv Barth)#66: Care Deeply, Hold Lightly (Ft. Liv Barth)
Mocktails Or Messy
Ryan and Kelly chat with Liv Barth about living "80% messy, 20% mocktail," sharing candid stories of social drinking, non-alcoholic options, and ADHD. The conversation focuses on finding a flexible middle ground between sobriety and partying, while still caring deeply about health, career, and community.
38:46•8 Oct 2026
Care Deeply, Hold Lightly: Liv Barth on Being 80% Messy, 20% Mocktail
Episode Overview
- You can still have a great time in social settings, even on trips like Ibiza, while staying sober or choosing not to drink at all.
- It’s okay to admit you’re not fully sober; honesty about being "80% messy, 20% mocktail" can feel more authentic than forcing a label.
- Simple routines like morning journalling and movement can steady you, whether you drink or not.
- An ADHD diagnosis and appropriate medication can feel like "putting on glasses"—not a weakness, but a tool to function better.
- Liv’s mantra, "care deeply, but hold lightly," encourages caring a lot about people and projects without letting expectations weigh you down.
“"Care deeply, but hold lightly."”
What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This chat on Mocktails Or Messy leans into the grey area many people actually live in: sometimes messy, sometimes alcohol-free, always trying to be real. Ryan and Kelly sit down with guest Liv Barth, a self-described "80% messy, 20% mocktail" kind of girl who loves green juice in the morning and gin at night.
She talks openly about enjoying cocktails, having sober and sober-curious friends, and still making space for non-alcoholic options like shandies and alcohol-free beers. Her story speaks to anyone who doesn’t see themselves as fully sober, but also isn’t thrilled about all-out binge culture anymore. Liv shares how her client-facing career, content creation, and freelance executive advisory work intersect with a social lifestyle that includes both wine-and-dine work events and NA drinks.
She gives a look into her routines—journalling, coffee in bed from her husband John, high-energy workouts—and how an ADHD diagnosis and medication have helped her feel more focused instead of out of control. There’s plenty of humour and honesty, from joking about being "80 messy" to describing friends who are five years sober having a blast in Ibiza with a group of drinkers.
Ryan and Kelly also talk candidly about the tension in making a sobriety-focused show when one host isn’t sober, and why they want space again for people who are somewhere in the middle. Liv closes with a line from her healer that sums up the conversation: "Care deeply, but hold lightly." It’s a gentle reminder that you can take your wellbeing seriously without being rigid about labels.
If you’ve ever wondered where you fit between messy and mocktail, this one might spark some reflection on what balance could look like for you.
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