When I launched You’ve Been Selected, I knew I was putting my story out there. I hoped people would listen—but, if I’m being honest, I secretly hoped they’d be strangers I’d never have to see in real life.
Then came the messages. Childhood friends. Old colleagues. “Hey, I listened to your podcast—I had no idea.”
Going all in on a public platform doesn’t just mean shouting your story into the void. It means walking into Starbucks and realizing that the person from high school in line behind you knows you shit your pants, lost your teeth, and burned your career to the ground over alcohol.
And yet—it’s worth it. Every awkward encounter, every moment of vulnerability. Because if my story helps even one person, if it chips away at the shame and stigma of addiction, then I’d tell it a thousand times over.
My first episode aired on January 7, 2025, and I am not backing down. I dove deep into my childhood struggles with body image, disordered eating, and an insatiable need for external validation—the perfect recipe for becoming a full-fledged “pick me” girl. I pulled back the curtain on how these experiences ultimately paved the way for my reliance on alcohol.
This raw and honest conversation explores:
- Battling self-worth issues tied to body image.
- The intersection of disordered eating and control.
- How the search for validation can lead to self-destruction.
- The pivotal moment when alcohol became my escape.
Peace Within, Bullshit Out
Kate
p.s. This story is To Be Continued… (Hint: Don’t miss Episode 2!)
You’ve Been Selected – Apple Podcasts
You’ve Been Selected – Spotify
YOU’VE BEEN SELECTED: Kate Vitela has been an RN in the Pacific Northwest for over two decades. She has been sober since 2018. You’ve Been Selected is a column that describes her journey through sobriety coaching, addiction, eating disorders, and what is now known as Drunkorexia. The title comes from the years of mandatory drug testing Kate endured after nearly ruining her nursing career due to alcohol. Kate recalls seeing these words appear on her phone each day she was chosen to randomly drug test to prove her sobriety to the nursing board.
