Suebelle Robbins: From Rock Bottom to Palm Beach Royalty

0:00You're about to make a trade. Which you do you listen to? Is it get optioning those options? Or let's do a little research. Learn more at FINRA.org slash trade smart. Everything that's going on right now with you, all the great things, how you're inspiring people would not have been possible if you were still hitting that bottle. I went to a psychiatrist and he said, well, you're an alcoholic. You have to stop drinking. I got so fed up with it. I said, oh, who cares? I went back to drinking and decided that I was always going to drink. I thought it helped me cope, but what it did was it brought me more depression.

0:41It's just a spiral and you get so down, it's almost impossible to feel good about yourself again until I found some like-minded people that would say, I love you and I want you to take care of yourself.

1:02So Sue Bell Robbins, we're here with you, the Instagram queen of Palm Beach. You're doing some amazing things at the young age of 70. Walk us through what's going on with you. Oh, again, beyond my wildest dreams, I have some great endorsements. I have like 725, I call them fans, but followers. I mean, it's amazing. And it'll be two years. It is two years in August that this all happened. And I still can't believe it. My manager, Ali, says I have imposter syndrome. because it's like, God, how did this happen? Yeah. You know, it's funny because I think we all go through those moments of imposter syndrome, especially when we create something.

2:04We're like, wait a second, you know, who am I to do all this stuff, right? Who's going to listen to me and how am I going to really inspire? Because to your point, I mean, you really look at yourself just as Sue Bell Robbins. You're just another person trying to give back to the world. So I can really relate to that. The first, gosh, I would say first three and a half years, I struggled with that. And really what I did was I had to change myself to the core to just understand that, hey, you've got something to give and you're sending out a good message and people are going to gravitate to it. So I can really relate to that.

2:39And I think a lot of people don't admit that part of what they're going through. I really wish I had more of a filter because I tend to just say what comes to my mind and my ex-husband used to call it knee-jerk reaction. So I wish I could be a little more thoughtful. I've been working on it. It's funny. You know, the insecurity issue, like, you know, I don't know if I deserve this. When I was in high school or college, mostly high school, my mother used to say, what do you care what those people think about you? But we do care. You know, we want to be thought well of and popular. And again, it comes with age and wisdom that you're more sure of yourself and less insecure.

3:52You know, it brings up a good point. I did a show yesterday and we were talking about fear, right? And a lot of times people say, I have this tremendous fear of public speaking. No one really has a fear of speaking in public. They have a fear of how people are going to judge them. absolutely that's true yeah and once we get through that cast because i thought oh but now uh now i'm comfortable you know there haven't been any negative uh repercussions it's been all positive and i like talking to you sean well thank you i like talking to you too and what could be negatively said about you i mean really come on like you know i i think that you know if Anybody that has a right mind really respects what you're doing and it inspires them.

4:42So with that, how did you get started?

4:49Well, there's a girl who sort of pops up on the street and will ask what you're wearing and what your favorite fragrance is. and she popped up when I was walking with my friend and we told her and I guess we got like overnight 16 ,000 comments and they were all positive and from there she asked me to do one of me alone and that went well and I met this girl who'd done a lot of Instagram and she said, her friend, we want to make you a star. And I said, oh, because I'm always concerned about money. And I said, okay, well, like how much are you going to charge or what's this going to entail? and they said, oh no, we just want to hang out with you.

5:59So that sort of got me started and the more I did it or the more videos we did, the more fans I got. Forgive me for calling them fans but I will be at a restaurant and I get not mom, but quite a few people want to say hello and they're so sweet so kind uh oh the best the one i love the most is uh oh you're much better looking in person than on the camera i think it's just the opposite but uh oh yeah that's how it started worst critic yeah i just went on and on and even today uh And I'll get another thousand followers, you know, if we post. I have a fabulous assistant manager. She bosses me around a little bit.

7:01But she edits everything and will come up with a subject or if we're going to an event. And she does all the filming and then edits and posts it. And all I do is talk, you know. Me too. You got the same thing. So you're as grateful as I am. So grateful. Yeah. I mean, without my team, I'm pretty much nothing. And I think it takes a very humble person to admit that, right? And back in the day, I was the one creating all my stuff. I was the one posting it. Now I have a team that does it. They do a damn good job. So I'm very grateful that I get to just have great conversations with people like you.

7:47and then other people do the things that I don't know how to do. And we're gonna take a quick break to hear from our Powered By sponsor. We're proud to announce a partnership between White Sands Treatment Centers and the Determined Society. With multiple locations across Florida, White Sands provides luxury, top-rated addiction treatment from medical detox and inpatient care to outpatient support and long-term aftercare. Their resort-style campuses, expert clinicians, and holistic programs create real, lasting recovery. Together, we're committed to bringing hope, resources, and healing to those who need it most.

8:29White Sands Treatment Centers. Make you look good. I don't know if they have that capability yet. We're still working on that one. We're still working on that one, Sue Bell. They got to do something else with this old man. But you mentioned something that I really wanted to touch on because you said you're always worried about money. And I think when we all get started in this space, we're so worried about what people want from us. And there's not enough people that want something for us, right? And it's always a, what's it going to cost me? And there's some people that would say, oh, it's only going to cost you$18 ,000 for two, three months.

9:10And you're like, wait a second. that where's the ROI on that, right? But you had somebody that believed in you and you had somebody that just wanted to be a part of your life because they respected you and they loved who you were as a human being. How has that played a factor in your growth? Because I would assume that trust is a massive factor, right? And so you trust these people. How did that work out for you? Because I'm really interested in that. I just became more confident. The more success, which I'm saying fans and success to me are sort of the same thing because it's people that are listening and enjoying what I have to say.

9:59The confidence really starts to flow and I'm not so concerned about anything really. I mean, I must say I do 100, I get 100 comments. Two of them will be a little snarky. One guy said, does your undertaker know you're walking around and I don't drink? And they've said, did you already have your martini? You know, stupid like that. That's two people out of a hundred. So to be so sensitive that that would ruin your day is just not happening anymore because I have the confidence and the love from the other 98. that's an important uh that's an important topic because a lot of times people can tend to focus on that negative aspect or the people that don't like them or have something snarky to say um in your words and what i found in my journey is to really focus on what i'm creating and how it's helping people and focusing on them and i love the fact that you call them fans by the way i have to say that because you said it a couple times and at one point you apologize for it to me I think calling them followers is, would be the apology because people are coming to our pages to ride along with us because we speak to them, you know, speak to their lives and the things that they're going through in a certain way.

11:38And to me, those are, that's the community. That's the fans. That's, you know, that's important. Followers is so kind of, you know, look at me, right? Look at me followers. I just, I just don't like that connotation. Yeah. So I got to ask you, what are you wearing today? You got a beautiful little, uh, pink outfit on and yes, it's, uh, I can't stand up. It's, um, one of the incredible things that's happened is I'm gifted with clothes. And this was a gift from a beautiful shop in Palm Beach. And I have it in pink and white. And when I post wearing it, they love it. No, that's great. It's called, yeah, this one is called La Vie, which means the life, Style House.

12:46And they're pretty much one of a kind. It's fabrics that were discontinued or something in this smart company. Put them together. And they're really, you can be fat and look fine in this because it's like a big thing. Like the sleeves. It's flowy. Oh, look at that. That's nice. I have this size arm, but they're wonderful. And they're all applique with flowers. It's sort of a happy look. I tend to be a little, I call it town and country with a couple buttons undone. You know, a little edgy. A little edgy. I mean, I'm edgy too. I like edge, right? And I think it takes an edgy person to do what you're doing.

13:33I mean, you started what? Did you start when you were 68 or 70?

13:4070. It's interesting to me because I look at your socials and I see the engagement and I see the love for what you're doing. And you had mentioned earlier that you wish you would have more of a filter, but I think you having the lack of the filter in so many words, because I don't think anything you say is bad. But, you know, that's what people are attracted to is your authenticity. Have you always held authenticity and genuineness at the forefront of everything that you do on a daily basis? Absolutely. And it's gotten me in trouble before. But when I did sales, I'm just a fabulous salesperson.

14:26I worked in a men's store and had a small line of villager clothes. It was very traditional. but I, the guys would buy the suits and I would do the shirt and ties. And I think I had good taste, but I also would be insisting that this was the one they should buy because it was the most attractive. And, and that was a great feeling. And it's sort of what I do now is like, if I really like something, I want to share it or, you know, talk about it. You know, I had an issue with drinking in my 30s, late 20s, 30s, 40s, and my life was becoming unmanageable. I had everything anybody could want as a corporate wife, sort of the boss's wife.

15:34I got away with a lot, but I wasn't bad, but I was just sloppy. And it was suggested that I look at that and do something about it, which I did. And I think that has given me, as I said, a life beyond my wildest dreams. I'm able to do a lot. And whenever I post about something like that, it's unbelievable how many people thank me and give positive comments. Or when I'm out, somebody will whisper in my ear, you know, you really helped me. And because it's a given that for every alcoholic, 12 people are directly affected. You know, your parents, your husband, your kids, a job, and there are many losses.

16:37So I, not to preach, but I just tell what's happened to me, my experience. I like that. And it begs the question of, you know, we don't always, or the statement, we don't always, how does it go? So, you know, the people that are going to tell us the things that we don't want to hear are the people that we need to keep the closest to us, right? Because they want us to be better. They want us to show up more polished and give something to world. Who was the person that, you know, inspired you or gave you that challenge to kind of look at that aspect? About 15 of my friends. A whole slew of them.

17:22They're like, Sue Bell, clean up your shit. We got to figure this thing out here. That's good. Those are real friends. I went to a psychiatrist and he said, well, you're an alcoholic. You have to stop drinking. So for a year, I drank apple juice, but nothing seemed to get any better. And then I got so fed up with it. I said, oh, who cares? I'm just going to go back and have a glass of wine. But within three days, I was back to having a scotch after the guiding light at four o 'clock. I mean, your life becomes very small. and now my life is incredibly large and filled with wonderful uh wonderful people and experiences and uh it's the best thing that ever happened to me but i didn't want to hear it initially no absolutely not none of us want to hear right what our biggest problem is because that is our own personal hell.

18:34And it reminds us that we feel we're failing in life. For me, and I talk about it very often, for me, it was binge eating. It was finding comfort in food and abusing food. And I was a food addict. I'm sorry, just the way it is. And I think I got to a point just in this past December, it's like, hey man, this is the one thing holding you back. How could you have a show called The Determined Society when you're not showing any discipline in your physical form. And for me, you know, yeah, it's about, you know, looking good and not having to worry about, I can't wear that shirt because it shows this, right?

19:13Those are all amazing things that transpire once you lose a ton of weight, but really it's about health, right? And we want to be able to live a long time be there for our people and and truly maximize how long we're on this earth because we don't know when that day is actually going to come yeah it's it's when you feel that your life's unmanageable you know i can't wear that shirt i look so fat in this and um and I got a DUI and I, and, or I've gained 17 pounds in the past two months. You got to look at it. And until you're, you're willing to look at it, you really can, as I said, 15 people told me, you know, that I should cool it, but it's really until I decided enough, you know with the help of god i'm a big believer that i didn't do it on my own i i i had help i love that and i subscribe to that right i mean you can do what you what you can but you know you pray and you and you look for strength and and you know discernment and and wisdom as well right because to know god is to is to is to find wisdom now when you said it was was the turning point Because I know you said like you had 15 friends that came up to you, psychologists or a psychiatrist said you're an alcoholic.

20:49You drank apple juice for about a month. You're like, I'm done with this crap. I'm having the wine. What was the DUI, the turning point for you to be like, OK, now I have to make a move? Well, I think I was what they call a dry drunk. You know, I wasn't drinking, but yet I wasn't happy. I didn't really have any, I didn't have a lot of support. And until I found some like-minded people that would say, you know, you're doing well. You know, I love you and I want you to be happy and take care of yourself. because it's not just one thing. You have to change everything about the way you look at things,

21:48stay away from depression, which is a big, big thing. I mean, it's just a spiral, and you get so down, it's almost impossible to feel good about yourself again. so that's what happened and then I went back to drinking and as I said within a few days I was right back where I had started and I decided that I was always going to drink you know that's the one thing that makes me survive you know all the

22:34like I had a not a happy marriage, you know, and and it, it, it, I thought it helped me cope, but what it did was it brought me more depression. And until I, you know, changed the way I thought and by actions, not much was going well and i did end up having a very civilized um divorce and i i moved back to boston where i had lived before and uh i just sort of started over uh you know like turn the tv off and then i turned it back on that's all thank you for that um you know So I want the listeners to really key in on this because, you know, there's a lot of people trying to go through changes in their life, right?

23:32And they think that just changing a habit is going to change everything. You have to become a different person to the core, right? It's about standards, right? It's about like changing the thing from I need to stop drinking to I do not drink. And then you start forming that connectivity with that actual identity. and it's almost subconscious how we do it. But I mean, that's exactly what happened with you, right? You change your identity. You're no longer the person that I'm just going to drink. I'm always going to drink as a part of who I am to I don't drink. And could you imagine everything that's going on right now with you?

24:18All the great things, how you're inspiring people would not have been possible if you were still hitting that bottle. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. You know, the boss's wife, the ego that comes with that, that, you know, you're unstoppable. You know, you don't have to answer to anybody.

24:44And there are no rules for you. They're for other people. losing that ego that I've heard it called easing God out that you become the star that's where it's got to start somebody said you've got to change and I said well I'm not drinking and he said no no you've got to change everything let go of the ego You know, I think that's where the problems begin. I had a friend that called it believing your own press. Wow, that's good. Yeah. That's really good. And it's true. Yeah. How did you have that? I shouldn't preach or anything. No, no, no. You're speaking on your own experience and my listeners understand that.

25:41They get it. What was it for you, right? Because we talked about easing out God and forgetting about you. I think everybody has a little bit of ego to a degree, right? I think some of it is healthy. It's not all bad. But how did you come out of that specific aspect of the ego and get to where you're at now?

26:10My self-esteem. Really kicked in, knowing that I was enough. I didn't have to compare myself with anybody else. I was grateful. Stopped taking things for granted. I used to say to my husband, hand me that. And he'd say, please is a very nice word. And I was going to say thank you, but just being mindful of other people, you know, and I was always rushing, you know, like the tortoise and the hare. You know, it's like everything doesn't have to be done right now. And again, I'm newly widowed, but I had a darling husband. And he used to tell me that I was a perfectionist in an imperfect world. And you've got to let go of that perfection ideology.

27:32It's going to bite you in the ass. It really will. Because nothing is ever going to be perfect. but to me the whole gig the whole reason for for life is finding peace and holding on to it i i read something somewhere that your late husband inspires you still to this day with his wisdom his type of sense of humor i love the fact how you honor him and you bring them bring him into your life in the physical form now, what certain things did you take from him in this journey?

28:17His humor, he was in a wheelchair for four years, his acceptance, his not ever complaining, his kindness but the humor was the best thing he was always when I was going to put him in this rehab because I thought he needed more stimulation and some of these rehabs are really a joke and this one was a huge joke but they made it sound like you had to apply and you might not get into the rehab, which is just bullshit. And they gave him a little quiz and they asked him who the president was. He said, Jimmy Carter. He was just great. Rinse takes your laundry and hand delivers it to your door, expertly cleaned and folded.

29:19So you could take the time once spent folding and sorting and waiting to finally pursue a whole new version of you. Like tea time you. Mmm. Or this tea time you. Or even this tea time you. So did you hear about Dave? Or even tea time, tea time, tea time you. Mmm. So update on Dave. It's up to you. We'll take the laundry. Rinse. It's time to be great. And he taught me a lot. I wanted to be like him. He didn't have any ego or giving him a compliment. He'd say, oh, that's not important. And you should never spend more than you make. I didn't love that too much. Who does? I don't like that one either.

30:13I mean, it was 38 years and 34 were just fabulous. He was really fun and he had funny names for people that weren't. That's awesome. You know. Yeah. If he'd see somebody really fat, he'd say, groceries. Oh, my God.

30:39It's funny. Hey, it's funny because real quick though, because the Jimmy Carter thing cracks me up. Yeah. Right. He knew who the president was, but he was messing with those people. You know, it's like Jimmy Carter. I think I was born when Jimmy Carter was the president. That's what makes it so funny. It was in the late seventies, right? I was born in 78. I just, you know, I just love that about him. And I love that you remember that about him. But most of what I'm hearing is I've never met that man, right? But what I admire about him is his sense of gratitude. No matter what he was going through, wheelchair bound for four years, he had true gratitude for the world and where he was at.

31:26And I think that gratitude is a practice that people throw around a lot. you know oh write three things you're grateful grateful for down but they don't go any further than that they don't really dissect it they don't take it on with him for the rest of the day throw that on your back like in a backpack and go through your day with those things that you're grateful for and more great things will come to you absolutely absolutely supposed to the ideal And it's hard because we're human beings, but to take this day and make it like the last day of your life, how you're going to treat people, how you're going to feel without regrets.

32:19so I like that I don't always practice it because we're human but you know just the kindness holding the door putting the grocery cart away there's so many little things and those little things add up to a sense of peace and a feeling of self-esteem When it comes to what your family eats and drinks, you know your choices matter. You're the expert because you know what fits your life. And getting it right starts with good information. That's why America's beverage companies are sharing more information about our ingredients at GoodToKnowFacts.org. No spin, no judgments, just the facts straight from the experts for more than 140 beverage ingredients.

33:12Visit GoodToKnowFacts.org. good self-esteem, you know, you're enough. You're giving back or you're thinking about, this guy said, I know I'm not much, but it's all I can think about. Lose that and think about other people because then you don't dwell on the sad things that are going on in your life or, you know, your foot hurts, you know, those kinds of thing. It's all little, little tricks. It's the same person, but you're just approaching it in a loving manner. I love that. I love what you just said, because a lot of times we'll let little ailments like, Oh, my leg hurts or I'm super tired. So I'm not going to go to the gym.