Ep 115. It’s Never Too Late to Start Over, with Belinda Stark
Episode description
In this episode, Ash sits down with Alcohol and Midlife Coach, Belinda Stark, who shows that it’s never too late to transform your life after making her own significant changes in her mid-50s. After running a successful fashion business for over a decade, Belinda made the bold decision to change careers, inspired by her own journey of overcoming depression, breast cancer, divorce, and a complex relationship with alcohol.
Belinda shares her personal struggles, including postnatal depression and hospitalisation after the birth of her second son, the moment she realised alcohol was no longer serving her, and how she finally found the courage to step into sobriety. She reflects on the tools that helped her along the way, the challenges of reprogramming deep-seated beliefs, and the incredible shifts she has experienced in her relationships, self-esteem, and overall happiness.
Ash and Belinda also discuss the importance of self-compassion, navigating midlife reinvention, and why it’s never too late to make a change.
The episode highlights are:
00:00 Introduction to Transformation and Resilience
02:39 Belinda Stark: A Journey of Courage
08:28 Hiding Behind the Smile: The Struggles Within
18:02 Childhood Influences and Early Habits
22:50 The Turning Point: Acknowledging Alcoholism
26:36 Facing Breast Cancer: A Life-Altering Diagnosis
30:09 Overcoming Health Challenges
33:08 The Role of Mindset in Recovery
35:16 The Journey to Sobriety Begins
39:39 Tapering vs. Cold Turkey: Finding What Works
40:59 Navigating Social Situations Sober
47:27 Tools for Sustaining Sobriety
49:02 Transforming Relationships Through Sobriety
53:44 Empowering Change in Midlife
55:53 Non-Negotiables for a Fulfilling Life
You can connect with Belinda Stark on Instagram or through her website.
To access your free guided meditations, head to the Freebie Page on Ash’s website https://www.ashbutterss.com/free-resources
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