An Interview With Wanda Malhotra
A sure thing so first you have to have The desire to be sober. I mean you can’t do it for somebody else, you can’t do it because it breaks your mom’s heart. You can’t do any of these things! Do it for you because this is a change you want to make inside of yourself. Once you cross that bridge you’ll notice that you feel so much better and you’ll want all your friends to do it too and they don’t want to do it. So it doesn’t work that way. It’s something you decide for yourself and then you can move forward with How that goes? The second thing is definitely as a kind of extension of this is getting that right with yourself. So meditating,
In a world where the journey towards sobriety is often challenging and deeply personal, understanding the pathways and strategies for achieving and maintaining sobriety is crucial. This series aims to provide insight, encouragement, and practical advice for those who are on the road to recovery, as well as for their loved ones and support networks. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Frog Greishaw.
Frog Greishaw, Founder of Frog Juice Kombucha. Introduced to kombucha in the ’90s, Frog brewed her own as a hangover cure in 2013 during her bartending days in Chicago. Using her hospitality background, she sourced local ingredients and founded Frog Juice Kombucha in 2014. Her journey to sobriety began, and in 2017, she moved to Knoxville, focusing on East Tennessees. In 2022, she opened Knoxville’s first sober bar, Frog Juice Boocherie, driven by her passion for nourishment and recovery, aiming for a global impact through community action. Now, join us for an exclusive interview with Frog Greishaw!
Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?
Absolutely. I’ve kind of been one of those people that’s always wanted to do their own business and always been an entrepreneur since I was little. I didn’t really see having a kombucha company on my bingo card ever when I was younger, but it really did line out. I think with my family history of farming and really caring about nourishing foods, and then eventually becoming sober through Brewing kombucha, which is a wild side effect. I didn’t expect either. it’s truly one of those jobs that’s encompassed all of my other jobs moving out to it or one of those careers. That’s all of those things.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
Absolutely. When I started my company we were Repurposing glass bottles from bars because I worked in the hospitality industry in Chicago and they weren’t recycling glass bottles there. So I was using used liquor bottles, sanitizing them, stripping the labels, all of that which should have won me a green award that would likely have gotten those shut down, actually. That was crazy.
At the time I didn’t really correlate the carbonation to using corks and I had these beautiful, whiskey bottles (a lot of them were whiskey bottles), but had these really lovely corks, but the carbonation from the kombucha pushed the corks out and this definitely caused some problems with some customers. So yeah, that was definitely an interesting learning experience.
That’s so funny about the corks. I love that story. You are very successful. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Sure thing. Definitely determination, perseverance and creativity will probably be the most important three characteristics to have if you’re going to go into any business, especially I think for the beverage industry is what I’m now realizing.
And I think determination just to even get started, for example, repurposing used bottles just because we didn’t have seed money to start with new bottles. I mean, it’s super expensive to buy a pallet of glass, people don’t really factor that in; we were just learning to be resourceful with the things that we had. and then I think for perseverance, I would say the most thing that comes to mind is certainly during the pandemic and we didn’t know when everything was going to reopen and all of our existing accounts that had inventory sitting on shelves and we’ve asked them, “ Hey, can we take all of this back and just replace it when everything reopens?” and we set up an online door-to-door delivery for kombucha and just replaced everything when everything reopened. But yeah, it was awesome that our B2B clients worked with us. We didn’t have access to all of their social media as far as all of our customers that they had but we ended up doing a pretty great business during that time which was super weird. And then I think about creativity.
The Boocherie is probably my favorite example of this, but I have all kinds of design background as well and to have the space that we could not have drunk people running around and trashing or whatever and I was able to do a permanent art installation there and design a space that would be so useful for so many different types of communities has been really awesome. So I think those are my best stories on those three
I love these stories, so creative, and what you did during the pandemic not all brands could do that. It was incredible how you served your community in such an amazing way. I love that story. Are you working on any exciting projects? How do you think that might help people?
So it may not sound very Surface exciting but we are about to launch an e-commerce. We are in a few hotels such as Blackberry Mountain and we get so many requests from people that have stayed there while traveling that want us to ship our product. This really hasn’t been something we’ve had a lot of luck with so far. We simply haven’t had the right packaging or team resources. We’ve been repurposing all those materials which takes too many man-hours for all of these things. So it sounds like capitalist excitement, but it’s actually not. The more produce that we can procure from local farmers and the more contact farming we can set up the better that actually works locally. So even though this gain on the surface looks like I was just adding another leg to the business. It’s actually creating more opportunities for the things that we want to invest in here and the causes that we want to support as well. Knoxville has such an amazing community of serving people that aren’t being served in other ways and this just adds to how we can be helpful in that way.
That’s a big deal. I like that project a lot, thank you for sharing this project with us. Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. How would you advise individuals who are contemplating the journey to sobriety but might be hesitant or unsure about taking the first step? Are there key considerations or strategies that can make this initial phase more manageable?
Definitely. I quit drinking while I was bartending in Chicago, for which I basically needed a witness relocation program. That would have been easier because my whole social network was based on alcohol. A long time ago, I had a friend who was also a bartender say this: “ As adults, we have bars or we have church, and that’s it.“ You have these two options like that’s yes, so, I don’t believe that we only have to have these two options. So it’s been really great to see The Boocherie come to fruition, for one thing but as far as if there had been something like that when I was first starting that would have been amazing. Yeah, you’re suddenly going to find yourself with lots of time on your hands because you’re not recovering from a hangover or getting drunk or whatever. I mean that all takes a ton of time and so that is the first thing is to get some Hobbies or something that you can do to fill that time so that you’re not just Slipping back into I’ll just have a drink and then the next thing you know your afternoon. But having Community, having a place to go that if all of your regular haunts and your whole routine is triggering; you need to find new places to go, even if that’s sitting outside. journaling, I mean there are so many ways, but you’ve got to get
Get right with yourself inside first and then figure out who your bubble needs to be and then figure out what you’re setting needs to be.
That’s so true. Sobriety often comes with its unique set of challenges. Can you share insights on how individuals can effectively navigate obstacles or triggers that may arise during their journey? Are there specific tools or support systems that you find particularly helpful in overcoming these challenges?
So everybody’s journey is different, obviously and some people really gravitate towards meetings and really find huge success with meetings. I wasn’t one of those people. I do different types of community work that I feel is more fulfilling. I don’t know, it’s not my jam personally, but it does work for a lot of people and I have heard firsthand from so many friends in recovery how that has become just their lifeline and it’s fantastic. I love that that is how people find that support and find that relatability to other people’s Journeys and really get that going for themselves.
But certainly, I mean the triggers are just, well, it can be anything. I mean, it can be a beer breath, too. There are so many things it could be like walking by and somebody smoking a cigarette that reminds you of being at a bar. I mean there’s so many olfactory triggers that I think are the hardest to deal with because our brains immediately transport us to that place.
Once again, I think that set and setting is really important. You need to go to yoga or something where I know no one’s gonna be smoking, somewhere we’re like whatever your trigger is, really pay attention to Journaling them. I mean I can’t really stress that kind of attention enough. This is paying attention to it. What’s that me off today? Why am I so bent out of shape? I’m just hungry. I was just mad that I couldn’t go to this bar and I had total fomo because my friends are there. This is different for everybody. It’s important to give yourself Some Grace and cut yourself some slack be proud of yourself for making this choice at all.
That’s very very helpful. I like all these tips. Maintaining sobriety is a long-term commitment. From your experience, what are the essential factors that contribute to the sustained success of individuals on this journey? Are there lifestyle adjustments or mindset shifts that prove crucial for the ongoing pursuit of sobriety?
100% but I know a lot of this was kind of repeating because to me it’s kind of all the same point and I think the maintenance of it I’ve had. Some of my friends want to visit. I mean, I was a horrible addict for a long time and I’ve had some friends want to visit, they just want to see what this event looks like. “How are you living life sober? I don’t even understand”, knowing me from my past. That’s been weird to have somebody even say that I can’t even picture this, and that’s exciting. I had a buddy who was probably six months into recovery who came through and did a shift at The Boocherie. He has been a bartender forever, but he’s a recovering alcoholic. You can’t go back into that field and find a place that doesn’t have alcohol, there’s not a lot of bars that are sober and He was absolutely blown away. He worked a 12-hour shift and just could not shut up about it the rest of his visit while he was staying with us in Knoxville. “I can’t even get over the fact that I could be there for 12 hours. I talked to so many people, I made so many drinks and not a single person was drunk. I didn’t want to drink. This was so weird. I didn’t even know this was possible. I can use this skill set and not drink.” It just blew his mind. So I think that’s definitely something that I’m really excited about for people in recovery. Because you don’t understand that there is life after this when you’re in it and you have no idea how to recreate yourself and I guess I wish I had had the witness relocation program. Moving to Tennessee helped and not that you need to run away from your problems because they do follow you. So if you’re ready to make a change, you’re like “my entire life is alcohol here. I need to go find other people ‘’, and I was definitely ingrained in it as far as Bartending for 20 years and 17 of those being in Chicago. So, I needed to go, and again, not out of escaping it but more of just I need to make a change for myself. seeing all of these people. That only reminded me of that time in my life and if that is your trigger, maybe that is that you do need to just remove yourself and go somewhere else and start over.
Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Things You Need to Begin, Navigate, & Sustain Sobriety”?
Sure thing! First, you have to have the desire to be sober. You can’t do it for somebody else, like because it breaks your mom’s heart. Do it for yourself because this is a change you want to make inside yourself. Once you cross that bridge, you’ll notice that you feel so much better. You’ll want all your friends to do it too, but they might not want to. It doesn’t work that way. It’s something you decide for yourself, and then you can move forward with it.
The second thing is getting right with yourself. This could be meditating, finding your spirituality, or whatever you need to center yourself.
The third thing is to find a community you can relate to. You can’t relate to people who are falling down drunk all the time for fun. You have to acknowledge that, accept it, and move forward. Beyond your intimate small bubble, you need to find your community. This means going to meetings and having like-minded people around. Grow that extension of this choice outside of yourself.
Lastly, find hobbies or activities that are not triggering and support your new way of life. This could be yoga, working out, crochet, taxidermy, or whatever keeps you busy. You’ll have all this time now that you’re not warming bar stools with your butt. You have to do something with that time, or you’ll go crazy. Create your own thing that satisfies you.
I think for stories on all of that, I mean I’ve shared a lot. Moving here and relocating really helped. But it’s funny, when I quit drinking, my body actually rejected alcohol. I couldn’t help it. I’d try to take a cup to my mouth, and my hand would go no further. There was a four-inch gap. It was wild. It was like hearing, “We are at maximum capacity. There is no more alcohol allowed in this building, understand?” That was crazy after decades of drinking. I was a career bartender at the time, which was insane to me. I needed to make sure my drinks tasted right, and they were like, “No, you are done. You are absolutely done.” Holy cow.
I don’t know anyone else who has had that particular experience, but I threw myself fully into this company. It has its own entrepreneurial addiction or weirdness of transferring into something else that takes all of my time. There could be a balance there. You’ve got to find the thing that keeps you from going back to that well, especially when you realize it’s not possible to be there anymore.
That’s a beautiful story, and I especially love the part where you couldn’t get to the alcohol because your hand was shaking. I think we all have the power to listen to our bodies. We just need to ground ourselves and do it, right? So, community support plays a vital role in the journey to sobriety. How can individuals find and engage with supportive communities or resources that align with their specific needs and goals? Are there any online platforms, local groups, or initiatives that you recommend for fostering a sense of connection and understanding during this process?
Absolutely. We have a meeting at The Boocherie. It’s a weekly meeting called Sober in Knoxville, and the meeting is called Emotional Sobriety. It’s literally a conversation about how you feel in this new direction right now. There’s no surrendering to anything. It’s just a conversation. The ripple effects from that are amazing. It’s a really safe place to be vulnerable. There are tears, hugs, and it’s a beautiful group. I’m really grateful and honored that we get to host them.
There’s another group that started at The Boocherie. They’re a nationwide circuit, but the Knoxville branch started at our sober bar. It’s called KnoxYpaa, which is Young People’s AA. It’s less structured than traditional AA meetings. A lot of people in the South have some religious stigma that may have even caused some of their drinking problems, like shame and guilt. That group outgrew the Boocherie in a couple of months, which is fantastic. Now they meet at Fourth and Gill once a week and it’s going strong. I know tons of people who get so much out of it and really enjoy it.
There’s another one called Dharma Group, which meets in the Mechanicsville neighborhood of Knoxville. They meet multiple times a week at a yoga studio there. I can send you the details. It’s a non-denominational meeting.
AA is everywhere. There’s also a Sober Pride group in Knoxville for the LGBTQ community. This community often relies heavily on alcohol due to stigma and discomfort around coming out. There are amazing resources here, and a lot of these meetings have online versions, which is very helpful.
You can find a lot of these groups on Facebook as well. There are tons of AA meetings here. I’ve heard mixed reviews from friends depending on what you’re recovering from. It’s not always the most accepting vibe. But the three groups I listed first are hands down “Come on in. We got a hug for you. We don’t care what you’re dealing with. We love you. Congratulations for making this choice for yourself.” These are really beautiful, inclusive groups.
That’s beautiful. What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
We are in the middle of doing a really great website overhaul, but it will be the same address: www.frog juicekombucha.com. And then at the top of the screen there are different tabs for different things that we are up to that’s a super easy navigable website. We don’t want anybody to have problems navigating it. So we’ve made it basic.
Wonderful. This was very meaningful. Thank you so much. We wish you only continue success on your great work frog.
Thank you so much Wanda. I really appreciate you have invited me to be a part of this and…
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com .
Frog Greishaw Of Frog Juice Kombucha On How to Begin, Navigate, & Sustain Sobriety was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.