Alicia Cook knows something most of us spend our lives trying to avoid: what it means to transform unbearable loss into art that heals others. After losing her 19-year-old cousin Jessica to a heroin overdose when she was just 20, Alicia could have let grief silence her. Instead, she picked up her pen and began writing—not about her own addiction, but about the devastation addiction leaves in its wake for the people who love someone caught in its grip.
Over the past decade, she’s become one of the most powerful voices in mental health and addiction awareness advocacy. Her four poetry collections have reached millions, been nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards, and transformed into song cycles and dance performances. But what makes her work resonate isn’t the accolades—it’s her refusal to offer easy comfort. Her poetry sits with you in the hardest moments and whispers: you’re not alone in this.
In this conversation, we explore the intersection of creativity, grief, and the choice to stop drinking—not because she was physically dependent, but because she recognized it wasn’t serving the life she wanted to build. This is a conversation about finding your voice when loss tries to steal it, about the courage it takes to write about the hardest things, and about why sometimes the best thing you can say to someone in pain is nothing at all.
Show Notes
[03:57] The Decision to Stop Drinking
Alicia stopped drinking in June 2019—not because of physical dependency, but because she realized it wasn’t adding to her life
“What’s the point of one drink? I’ll just drink water if that’s the case”
She always drank with intention to get drunk, never casually
The decision became easy once she made it: “Full stop, it was very easy for me never to drink again”
[05:27] Living in the War Zone of Loving Someone with Addiction
Her main experience with addiction was watching her cousin and others in her family struggle with heroin
“That’s its own war zone in itself”—the helplessness of watching someone deteriorate
People would say “I could stop if I wanted to,” even as the drug destroyed them from the inside out
The reality: you have no control, and nothing you say or do can make them stop until they’re ready
[08:32] The Origin Story: Losing Jessica
Jessica died from a heroin overdose at 19; Alicia was 20
“Her better place was at home with me”—pushing back against well-meaning but hollow comfort
The loss catalyzed everything: her advocacy work, her poetry series “The Other Side of Addiction”
She began writing to shed light on how addiction devastates families, not just users
[14:17] Why Poetry? The Music Mixtape Format
Alicia has been writing poetry since childhood—it’s not just what she does, it’s how she sees the world
Her books are structured like mixtapes with “tracks” because music and poetry are intertwined for her
“I can’t separate music and words... I’ve always found the correlation between the two”
The format gives readers permission to skip around, much like we do with albums
[24:03] The Intersection of Grief, Addiction, and Mental Health
All three topics appear in her work simultaneously because that’s how they exist in real life
She refuses to separate them into neat categories
“I’m writing about grief and mental health and addiction all at once because I experienced them all at once”
The interconnectedness of these experiences is what makes her work resonate with so many people
[30:41] On Sobriety and Self-Understanding
Getting sober allowed her to understand herself better and face uncomfortable truths
“You have to replace the bad habit with something else that might be beneficial to your life”
She’s careful not to give prescriptive advice because everyone’s journey is different
The key: find your rhythm, discover what you enjoy doing instead
[39:42] Original Poetry Reading: “Lessons from the Grief Police”
Alicia shared an unpublished satirical poem about unsolicited grief advice
The “grief police” are people who tell you to move on, count your blessings, or be grateful for time you had
“Their better place was at home with me”—rejecting the notion that death is ever preferable
Sometimes the best thing to say to someone grieving is nothing at all
Key Quotes
“What’s the point of one drink? I’ll just drink water if that’s the case. So that’s my brain.” - Alicia Cook
“You look like a walking corpse. It’s destroying you from the inside out and they just can’t see it. They’re so far gone in this disease of addiction.” - Alicia Cook
“Her better place was at home with me. I would rather have her detoxing in a rehab, but thanks.” - Alicia Cook
“You have to replace the bad habit with something else that might be beneficial to your life instead of taking away from your life.” - Alicia Cook
“Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing because when you’re going through grief, my patience is short. You say one ridiculous thing to me, that might be it for us.” - Alicia Cook
Resources Mentioned
Alicia Cook’s Poetry Collections:
Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately (2016, Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist)
I Hope My Voice Doesn’t Skip (2018)
Sorry I Haven’t Texted You Back (2020, Goodreads Choice Awards Semi-Finalist)
The Music Was Just Getting Good (2024)
Essay Series:
“The Other Side of Addiction” - essays about how drug addiction impacts families
Media:
Featured on PBS Emmy-nominated documentary series Here’s the Story in the episode “A Family Disease”
Where to Find Alicia Cook
Instagram: @thealiciacook (her main platform)
Alicia regularly performs poetry readings at Barnes & Noble locations, schools, colleges, and poetry communities throughout the Northeast.
Your Next Step in Creative Clarity
If Alicia’s story resonates with you—if you’ve been sensing that drinking isn’t adding to your life anymore, or if you’re watching it slowly drain the creative energy you know you’re capable of—you don’t have to figure this out alone.
The choice to stop drinking isn’t always about rock bottom or physical dependency. Sometimes it’s simply recognizing that something isn’t serving the person you’re trying to become. Sometimes it’s about removing the one thing that’s standing between you and your clearest, most creative self.
The Sober Creative Method™ is a 90-day journey designed specifically for creative professionals who are ready to remove alcohol as the barrier to their greatest work. It’s not about willpower or deprivation—it’s about building a life so compelling that drinking becomes irrelevant.
If you’re curious about what your life and work could look like with complete clarity, let’s talk. Book a call and let’s explore what’s possible when you stop numbing and start creating.
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us live for this conversation, and to Alicia Cook for her extraordinary honesty, vulnerability, and powerful poetry. Your presence and engagement make these conversations possible.
What’s Next
The Sober Creative is more than a newsletter—it’s a movement of professionals reclaiming their creativity by choosing clarity over coping.
🎯 Take the Clarity Quiz: This assessment reveals certain areas where alcohol may be the exact thing that is quietly sabotaging your creative potential. It’s free and only takes a few minutes.
✍️ Read the Essays: Stories and strategies for building a clear, creative, and intentional life.
🎙️ Join Clear Conversations: Honest talks with creative professionals navigating the intersection of sobriety, self-discovery, and breakthrough work.
💬 Curious about your next step? If you’re sensing that something’s holding you back, but you’re not sure what—reach out. Coaching, community, or clarity—it all starts with a conversation.
✨ The Sober Creative Method™ is a 90-day journey to remove alcohol as the barrier to your greatest work.
Each step forward is an act of becoming who you’re meant to be.
Thanks for walking this path with me.
Josh
P.S. Missed previous episodes? Browse the Clear Conversations archive to explore more conversations with creative minds in sobriety.
