An Inspired Chat with Gina Kunadian of San Jose, CA

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Gina Kunadian. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Gina, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, what’s been bringing me the most joy outside of work is simply slowing down and soaking in family life. With three boys and another little one on the way, my days are full of laughter, sports practices, and those everyday moments that often get overlooked but mean everything.

Being out in nature also fills me up – whether it’s a picnic, a walk, or just breathing in fresh air, it reconnects me to my higher self and reminds me why living alcohol-free is such a blessing. These simple joys – family, nature, and presence – are what keep me grounded, energized, and aligned.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Absolutely! I’m Gina Kunadian, a women’s alcohol-free sobriety coach, TEDx speaker, and host of the Shine Within Podcast. My mission is to empower women to break free from the grip of alcohol and step into a life filled with clarity, confidence, and energy.

What makes my brand unique is the heart behind it – my SHINE Process (Sobriety, Healing, Inspiration, Nurturing, Empowerment) isn’t just a framework, it’s a reflection of my own journey of transformation. I know what it feels like to hit rock bottom, and I also know the joy of rising above it. Today, I get to help women reclaim their worth, unlock their creative potential, and shine from the inside out. Right now, I’m also celebrating 8 years alcohol-free and preparing to welcome my fourth child in December – two powerful reminders that life’s greatest transformations happen when we choose healing and love.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that I wasn’t good enough – that my worth depended on how well I performed or how much I pleased others. I carried a lot of self-doubt and often silenced my own needs just to keep the peace.

Today, I know that belief was never true. Through my journey of sobriety and healing, I’ve come to see that my value has always been there – not because of what I do, but because of who I am. Now, I live from a place of self-love and empowerment, and I teach other women to see their worth in the same way.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Haha… honestly, my whole life up until sobriety felt like one long stretch of almost giving up. I tried everything – AA, the 12 steps, therapists, inpatient and outpatient programs, rehab – you name it, I walked through those doors. Each time, I hoped this would finally be the thing that worked, only to find myself slipping again and again. And with each relapse came this heavy voice whispering, “See? You’ll never get better. You’re hopeless.”

There were so many nights I felt like I couldn’t go on. Nights where I stared at the ceiling wondering if my life even mattered. The shame and exhaustion were suffocating. I wanted freedom so badly, but I felt completely powerless to grab hold of it.

And then came a day I’ll never forget. I was sitting in my car, sobbing, and for the very first time I truly surrendered. I cried out, “God, if You’re real, please take this from me. I can’t do it alone anymore.” It wasn’t fancy, it wasn’t rehearsed – it was raw, desperate, and straight from the depths of my soul. And that prayer cracked something open inside me.

Two weeks later, my world stopped. I landed in the hospital with pancreatitis. The doctor looked me square in the eyes and said, “If you keep drinking, you will die.” It was like a lightning bolt of truth. Suddenly, I pictured my two kids – just 9 and 2 years old – growing up without their mother. I thought about them needing me at graduations, birthdays, their weddings, and I realized in that moment: I couldn’t keep living this way. I couldn’t leave them with that legacy.

That hospital visit became my wake-up call. It was the moment I finally understood that my life wasn’t just about me – it was about them. It was about the calling God had placed on my life that alcohol was trying to steal.

And here’s the miracle: after that surrender, everything shifted. Sobriety wasn’t about white-knuckling anymore. It wasn’t about trying to “be strong.” It became about grace, faith, and choosing life one day at a time. That one divine moment in my car, paired with the harsh truth in that hospital, saved my life.

So yes, there were countless times I wanted to give up. But what I’ve learned is this: sometimes when we feel like we’ve reached the end, that’s really just the beginning. That’s the place where surrender meets transformation. And if my story shows anything, it’s that no one is ever too far gone.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies I see in the sobriety and coaching space is the idea that “sobriety has to look the same for everyone.” The industry often paints recovery as this rigid, one-size-fits-all program – usually tied to the 12 steps, meetings, or labels that can feel heavy for some people. And while those frameworks absolutely work for many, the truth is that transformation is deeply personal. What saved my life wasn’t ticking boxes in a program – it was a divine moment of surrender and learning how to love myself again.

Another lie? That women need to “give something up” when they quit drinking. I hear this all the time, the belief that living alcohol-free means living a boring, restricted, or joyless life. But sobriety isn’t about giving up – it’s about gaining everything. Clarity, energy, confidence, creativity, peace, health, and connection to what really matters. Alcohol was stealing those things from me. Sobriety gave them back.

And finally, I think the wellness space can sometimes sell this idea that transformation happens overnight. But the truth is, it’s a daily choice. It’s messy, nonlinear, and full of grace. There’s no shame in stumbling – what matters is choosing to rise again. That’s what real empowerment looks like.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I lived my life with heart, courage, and authenticity. That I turned my deepest pain into purpose and never stopped believing in the power of transformation. I want my kids, and anyone who knew me, to remember that I didn’t just survive – I chose to thrive, and in doing so I gave others permission to do the same.

I hope they tell the story of a woman who fell, got back up, and used her journey to shine light on others who were still in the dark. That I loved fiercely, laughed often, and showed people that sobriety isn’t the end of joy – it’s the beginning of truly living.

Most of all, I want people to say that because of me, they felt seen, supported, and inspired to embrace their own worth. That’s the legacy I want to leave – a ripple of love, empowerment, and freedom that continues long after I’m gone.

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