In this first solo episode of Melding Yellow, host Karla Adkins launches the podcast on the same day she marks 12 years alcohol-free. She shares the story behind the name "Melding Yellow," breaks down what a MELD score is and why it matters, opens up about her own turning point, and lays out what listeners can expect from the show going forward.

In This Episode

• [00:00] A special launch day — Karla welcomes listeners back and explains why she chose her 12-year alcohol-free anniversary as the day to launch the podcast, offering hope to anyone waiting for their "day one" to stick.
• [02:21] The story behind the name — Where "Melding Yellow" came from, the wordplay behind it, and what the brand's navy, yellow, and green colors represent.
• [04:38–08:12] Yellow's meaning, then and now — Karla talks about writing the "Yellow" chapter of her book, once one of the hardest and most painful to write, and how the color's meaning has shifted for her from fear to hope and health.
• [08:12–10:35] What is a MELD score? — A plain-language breakdown of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score: what it measures (bilirubin, creatinine, INR, sodium, and sometimes albumin and sex), what the 6–40 scale means, and why it matters for liver transplant urgency.
• [10:35–13:00] The crossroads — Karla describes the turning point in her own journey and why traditional paths like AA and rehab didn't work for her.
• [13:00–17:47] Finding a different way — How research led her to a new community, a different methodology, and finally some answers to the "why" behind her drinking — and the self-reflection that came with realizing she'd started pushing her own approach the way others had once pushed theirs on her.
• [17:47–22:34] On labels and language — Why Karla doesn't use the word "alcoholic" and prefers AUD (alcohol use disorder), her honest take on the disease model debate, and why she believes the goal should be helping people find freedom — not agreeing on the "right" way to get there.
• [22:34–24:31] What's ahead on Melding Yellow — A look at what's coming: education, expert guests, the return of the Limiting Belief Lab series, and real conversations about what worked (and didn't) for people navigating their relationship with alcohol.

Key Takeaways

• You never know when your "day one" will be the one that sticks.
• The MELD score (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) is a 6–40 scale doctors use to assess liver disease severity and transplant urgency.
• There's no single "right" way to find freedom from alcohol — what matters is that it works.
• Karla prefers the term AUD (alcohol use disorder) over "alcoholic," seeing it as a spectrum rather than a fixed label.

Resources & Links

• Website: karlaadkins.com
• Newsletter: sign up at karlaadkins.com for occasional updates — no spam
• Coming soon: Limiting Belief Lab series returns to the podcast

Connect

Follow along and share your own story — Karla wants to hear what's worked (or hasn't) for you. Find her on Instagram [@karlakadkins].

Melding Yellow is hosted by Karla Adkins. New episodes every other week.