Nadine Jolson has over 30 years of extensive experience with a successful focus on image branding, powerful public relations, smart design, and strategic marketing for entertainment and lifestyle clientele. Jolson Creative is best known for generating buzz for independent films, producing immersive red carpet events, launching new businesses, and image makeovers to elevate people, businesses, and brands to reach the next level. 

www.jolsoncreative.com

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. Wine, fine wines, a few other drugs Sobriety date 4/24/1993.

Q. What do you like most about 12-step meetings?

A. I find great comfort in 12-step meetings because they resonate deeply with our shared experiences. They can make us laugh, bring us to tears, and create moments where we truly feel connected, as if we’ve all witnessed something remarkable together.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. Without a doubt, I believe it encompasses all of these aspects. I have a real allergy to alcohol, much like my allergy to shellfish. It impacts my body on a cellular level, just as eating shrimp would. However, I don’t have a disease that drives me to consume shrimp to feel better about myself or to fit in and feel comfortable in my own skin. For a time I thought the wine was helping my self-esteem, instead it was eating away at it, always making matters worse, not better.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. It’s inspiring to see the many celebrities in recovery, especially living in Los Angeles and working in the entertainment industry. I have had the honor and privilege of working with some and also sponsoring a few.  It can be tough to pick just one favorite. What touches me the most is when they use their platform to genuinely support others, both within the 12-step community and beyond. Their willingness to share their journeys can make a significant difference in the lives of those who are struggling.  

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. My preferences are always evolving. I love the mountains and rivers, as well as the great outdoors, but I also enjoy the vibrancy of city life. I want to retire somewhere lively, close to nature, and with plenty of options. Currently, we’re discussing Portugal.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. For me, my number one tool is emotional sobriety. I have maintained physical sobriety for over 32 years, but emotional sobriety is the cornerstone of my daily commitment to myself. My self-esteem, self-worth, and self-respect are essential to my recovery. Additionally, I am a double-winner and have been working the Al-Anon program since I was about one year sober. I could not stay sober without it. Through Al-Anon, I have learned to engage in daily self-esteem-boosting actions, practice self-love, prioritize true self-care, make healthy choices, and cultivate continuous self-awareness.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. To me, success is when my clients are happy and achieving their goals, dreams, and desires that I helped guide them towards. It brings me joy to know that I played a part in their journey. Success is seeing the smile of ease and self-confidence on one of my sponsees’ faces.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. For me, it’s when speakers should be following the basic format of sharing their experiences—what it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now—but spend the whole time droning about their childhood. As a result, they only have a few minutes left to discuss their sobriety. 

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. If I had an extra million dollars, I would choose to support charities dedicated to mental health issues and recovery, and empowering individuals.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. My mother taught me to be strong and independent, encouraging me to use my being as a woman to my advantage rather than as a disadvantage.

My father introduced me to Werner Erhard’s EST program in my early teens and then to Stewart Emery’s Actualizations by the age of 16. This set me on a path of self-realization and provided me with great tools to navigate my life. I committed myself to recovery and to nurturing my spiritual life in 1993.

Q. From what school of thought or teacher did you learn the most from?

A. Werner Erhard had a saying: “It’s much easier to ride the horse in the direction it’s going.” I always felt like I was swimming upstream in life, as if everyone else had the instruction manual while I didn’t. I carried the responsibilities of those around me, which, because of my family dynamic, was quite unhealthy. This mantra permitted me to live my life as it is, with more ease, a sense of grace, and a bit of peace of mind.

Stewart Emery’s premise was “You don’t have to rehearse to be yourself.” Throughout my years of emotional sobriety, I have learned to embrace this concept. I learned that being genuine and authentic was precious and not having to be a people pleaser all the time or apologize for just being me.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I was born and raised in Beverly Hills, lived in Manhattan for a few years as a kid in the 1960s, in San Francisco in the 1980s, and have been back in LA since 8/8/88, now living in Westwood.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. I have a deep appreciation for Thich Nhat Hanh’s eloquent spiritual wisdom, Alexander McCall Smith’s wit and storytelling that brings to life charming characters and beautiful foreign lands, and Agatha Christie, because I love rich detailed detective stories.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Aquarius.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. My concept of a Higher Power is deeply connected to the beauty of nature and the vastness of the universe, rather than a bearded guy controlling everything in the sky. Over the years, I have cultivated a strong partnership with my inner resource. I embrace spirituality over religion.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. Recovery books: The Twelve and Twelve are my go-to in both AA and Alanon, The Courage to Change- daily reader is great; Affirmation books: I Deserve Love by Sonja Ray, Illuminata by Marianne Williamson.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. I want to say Palm Springs or Groundhog Day because they are time-loop movies, to be silly. There are so many – I watch over and over again.  I love Shawshank Redemption, Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, The Godfather, Moulin Rouge, any and all James Bond Films, and The Thomas Crown Affair, and recently the Knives Out films that jump out of the top of my head.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Steven Spielberg,  Wes Anderson, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Stanley Kubrick, and can’t wait to see Joseph Kosinski’s F1 movie.

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. How much better my life became when I removed the alcohol and got down to treating the causes and conditions of my ‘ism.”  Before the program, I was sure it was my circumstances in my life at that time that were causing all my pain and suffering.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. If I could advise my younger self, it would be this: I shouldn’t take myself or life so seriously. I often felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders, believing I was responsible for everything and everyone. I thought I was doing it all wrong. My favorite affirmation now is, “Everything is always working out for me.” I wish I had told myself that I am pretty and beautiful. While I may not fit traditional beauty standards and often feel inadequate, I have a great sense of style and know how to present myself in a way that highlights my best features. However, I would have loved to have developed a strong sense of self-confidence and self-love from an early age. Now, in my 60s, I feel that I have truly grown into my beauty, and I’ve never felt prettier or more beautiful. 🙂

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. I just downloaded the audiobooks: How to Argue With A Cat by Jay Heinrichs and We Are Experiencing A Slight Delay by Gary Janetti

Q What is your favorite App?

A. Calm: has tons of guided meditations, sleep stories, and music; social media TikTok; my sports app F1; Better Me health app; every aspect of my life has an app or two.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. Yes! The Residence was excellent,  Drive to Survive; Obsessed with The Traitor- watched all franchises in US, UK, Australia, NZ; all seasons and international franchises of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Doctor Who; The Studio; Billions; almost any reality competition shows.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Confident.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. AWARENESS, ACCEPTANCE & ACTION 

Awareness: Develop self-awareness about your character and practice mindfulness about your defenses, and gain clarity about your role in different situations.

Acceptance: It is crucial to accept yourself for not knowing how to handle things differently at the time. Forgive yourself and let go of the tight grip you have on your feelings about the behaviors of others.

Action: Learn how to approach situations differently. Focus on building your self-esteem, self-worth, and self-value.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. I am devoted to self-love through daily self-care. I consciously choose healthy options in how I nurture my body, cultivate a harmonious home for me and my husband, and prioritize my emotional and mental well-being.