In this episode I talk to my mate and hot cold therapy coach Cathy Downing about the benefits of jumping in to a bath of icy cold water. This is something I have been doing for a while and I find it so beneficial for my mental health and also my physical health. Cathy has a passion for health and wellness with a background in nursing. We talk about how pushing your physical boundaries makes you more resilient, how sitting in an ice bath can make your mindful, reduce inflammation and even help yo...
Jun 29, 2022•1 hr 16 min
In this episode I chat with Ali from WA who is celebrating 12 months of sobriety. for more resources go or to join the next HIQA challenge go to www.iquitalcohol.com.au Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol This podcast was brought to you by Monday Distillery https://mondaydistillery.com/ Music for Monday Distillery ads by Ash Grunwald www.ashgrunwald.com Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol conside...
Jun 25, 2022•55 min
In this episode I was so honoured to chat with Josh Cunningham, guitarist and song writer from Aussie band The Waifs. Josh quit drinking at 28 years old and has been sober for 20 years. We chatted about his relationship with alcohol and how realising early on that he would get "the can't stops" and after a few too many nights of not remembering the night before decided to give alcohol away. We talked about the importance of self love, connection to source and playing it forward. I also shared wi...
Jun 18, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Back by popular demand, I welcome back founder of the Bamboo Yoga School, yogi Mark Purser. We chat about the tough choices we make along the way in sobriety, having the guts to say No to things. How connecting to the person you want to be and taking baby steps towards becoming that person can help to keep you sober and most importantly sitting with your feelings. Once again Mark gives us a couple of quick and easy nervous system reset exercises and introducing the mantra "good enough" into your...
Jun 14, 2022•1 hr 36 min
In this episode I chat with Haile Halloran founder of Paperbark Death Care. We chat about changing the generational addiction that is passed down through our families. Haile grew up in the AA rooms with her Mum, went to AA herself in her early 20s (but started again later), and then to support her daughter decided enough was enough and has been sober for over 12 months at the time of recording. We also chat about birth, death and the gift of what is in between, how to death well without using al...
Jun 11, 2022•1 hr
So many of us are driven to drink due to social anxiety, and often we don't even know we have it. In today's mid week episode I caught up with therapist Ben Schiller to chat about it. How to recognise it, where does it come from and what to do about it. If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 07, 2022•1 hr 3 min
In this episode I chat with ex-boxer Steve Woollett who has been living sober for 14 years after an incident that changed his life. Steve uses talking about the worst night of his life which he now sees as the best of night of his life as a driver to stay sober. He talks about it whenever he can to keep it at the forefront of his mind but has found that through talking about his past, he enables people to confront their own fears and stories around addiction. A powerful story from a wonderful hu...
Jun 04, 2022•58 min
In this episode I chat with 29 year old Patrick Kennedy on the day of his 1 year of sobriety milestone. I loved this chat, for such a young guy Patrick has so much wisdom, which only comes from someone who has pulled themselves through the darkness. We talk about asking for help when you just can't say the words, seeing yourself as you really are, our shared hatred of small talk and how that fuels most social anxiety (in our not so expert opinion), cracking yourself open in front of people, the ...
May 28, 2022•1 hr 17 min
In this episode I chat with Leonie from Sydney who is 10 years sober at the time of recording. We chat about how she quit, grieving your relationship with alcohol and how using the mantra "I am so glad I don't have to drink anymore" was a life saving technique. The documentary we mentioned, The Wisdom Of Trauma can be found out https://thewisdomoftrauma.com Music for Monday Distillery ads by Ash Grunwald www.ashgrunwald.com Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr ...
May 25, 2022•57 min
In this episode I catch up with Andy Quin, co-founder of Etch Sparkling. Andy has been sober for some time now and she actually gave up drinking to support her husband Jason who was having some serious issues with alcohol. Even though Jason tried multiple times to stop, Andy remained compassionate and loving towards him even when she felt let down and afraid. This is a great episode for anyone supporting a loved one in sobriety or who has a loved one they are worried about but not sure what to d...
May 21, 2022•59 min
In this episode I catch up with Lucy Quick from Thrivalist. We talk about how Lucy like so many of us "didn't have an off switch", she would binge and have huge blackouts. During these blackouts Lucy would become completely wild and "uncontrollable" making poor decisions and waking up with shame and regret. After hitting rock bottom, depressed, drinking a bottle and a half of wine (or more) a day, a series of blackouts and waking up not knowing what had gone on the night before, feeling trapped,...
May 14, 2022•55 min
In this episode I chat with Mark Purser, yoga and meditation teacher and owner of Bamboo Yoga in Byron Bay. We chat about his journey with alcohol and how he managed to pull himself out of a really dark place through yoga and mediation. We talk about the importance of a mindfulness practice in sobriety, connecting back to your true self and all those beautiful people in yoga studios in Byron Bay. Mark even shows us a very quick breath technique for a quick nervous system reset. To reach out to M...
May 07, 2022•1 hr 31 min
In this episode I chat with Miles Bingham aka @thesobertrekker about his 7 years of sobriety. We chat about his struggle with his mental health, how having solid boundaries helps to keep you authentic, how being in nature is the antidote to stress and anxiety and how we are all just chasing serenity through oblivion. Music for Monday Distillery ads by Ash Grunwald www.ashgrunwald.com Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy for more resources go to www.iqui...
Apr 23, 2022•1 hr 9 min
In this episode I chat with my hubby Ash Grunwald about his recent shows at Bluesfest and how it felt to be playing those as a sober person. We also chat about the power of manifestation and taking steps towards your fullest potential. Music for Monday Distillery ads by Ash Grunwald www.ashgrunwald.com Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy for more resources go to www.iquitalcohol.com.au If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider ...
Apr 22, 2022•28 min
In this episode I catch up with Nat Batalia, founder of the Mindful Mocktail. Nat and I chat about the how the adjustment from life pre-kids to motherhood didn't come naturally, and how guilt from those feelings caused her drinking to start to spiral out of control. Nat was hiding her drinking from her husband and feeling so much shame and guilt which perpetuated the drinking even more. After a big wake up call, Nat realised it was time to get honest with herself and make some changes. Nat start...
Apr 16, 2022•54 min
Parenting can be pretty stressful, especially around the witching hour when you are trying to get it all done and the kids are driving you a bit nutty. What to do when we no longer have the go to of alcohol to escape the mundane or stressful moments of parenting? This question was put to me by someone on instagram this week so I got together with one of the HIQA graduates and mum of two, Kate Morrison. We talk about the realities of parenting and how we have survived it, we also read out some co...
Apr 12, 2022•52 min
In this episode I catch up with Michelle from Brisbane who is a graduate from our October 21 3 months sober challenge and a participant in the HIQA Graduates group. Now 6 months down the track Shell is going strong and not planning on going back to drinking any time soon. We talk about her journey with alcohol and how the journey has been for her so far. For more resources or to find out to register for the HIQA 6 week sober challenge starting o May 1 goto. https://www.iquitalcohol.com.au Reach ...
Apr 09, 2022•54 min
I had a midweek catch up with Victoria Vanstone blogger and podcaster aka Drunk Mummy Sober Mummy to chat about the new sober platform, Cuppa that she has co-created with Lucy Good. Cuppa is a free online platform where the sober community and sober curious community can connect and support one and other. Create events, share stories, organise catch ups, maybe set yourself up on a sober date, share resources. It's all in this one awesome platform. To sign up go to https://cuppa.community or reac...
Apr 05, 2022•29 min
In this episode I chat with personal trainer, mindset, strength and conditioning coach, endurance athlete and Guinness world record holder Jamie Milne. We chat about his relationship with alcohol which would see him having binges that would go for days sometimes even weeks. Mindset and his greatest weakness has now become his super power. Almost three years sober at the time of recording Jamie is a true inspiration, his outlook on life is extremely powerful. We chat about - how a series of "dick...
Apr 02, 2022•1 hr 15 min
In this episode I catch up with our pal and amazing musician Jaimi Faulkner. It was great to catch up with this guy, last time we caught up in the flesh we were SMASHED in Italy after a chance meeting on a train on our way to Pisa. Jaimi like many of us started drinking in his teens and as he immersed himself in the Melbourne music scene his alcohol intake increased gradually over time, fast forward to an international music career and fatherhood Jaimi felt he wasn't living life to his fullest p...
Mar 19, 2022•1 hr 18 min
In this episode Ash Grunwald and I chat about his temporary lapse in focus and how going back to basics with this daily practice like journalling and mindfulness help him feel at peace in his inner world no matter is going on in the external world, how the easiest way to reduce suffering during sobriety is through 100% commitment, how to keep your self there and the importance of an optimistic mindset. Ash's book Surf By Day Jam By Night is available at www.ashgrunwald.com, Booktopia and other g...
Feb 26, 2022•42 min
In this episode I chat with Sarah from Canberra who was a participant in the HIQA October challenge. Sarah's issues with alcohol started later in life when the shift from dynamic career to the monotony and isolation of motherhood lead her to seek escape every night in a bottle of wine or two. Like so many mothers, Sarah had to deal with the guilt and the conflicting feelings that can arise in motherhood which set her on a path of relying on the bottle to numb out which then became the crutch to ...
Feb 19, 2022•1 hr 15 min
In this jam packed episode I chat with provisional psychologist Georgie Budini who has had ten years experience working with drug and alcohol addiction in prisons and in the community. We talked about riding the waves of cravings, mastering your nervous system, feeling what needs to felt rather than avoiding the uncomfortable, the importance of having a plan, creating a sense of safety, why sleep can be so crappy in early sobriety and so much more. Check out Motivational Interviewing Stephen Rol...
Feb 13, 2022•58 min
In this episode I catch up with Australian musician Kelly Brouhaha, seven months sober at the time of recording Kelly talks about the struggles with her mental health, life and sobriety on the road and the tools she has in place to keep her on track. We chat about how to stay on track when you are way from home, the importance of prioritising yourself, how journalling can keep your mental health on track and how reaching out to people can save you. Watch one of Kel's tunes https://www.youtube.co...
Feb 05, 2022•58 min•Season 5Ep. 1
In this episode I catch up with legendary blues man Hat Fitz. Fitzy had always been labelled a "wild man" in the Aussie blues scene, he is a big character, rough around the edges, honest as they come and reflective of his relationship with alcohol and the rock bottom he went to as a result. Hat Fitz lives on the Sunshine Coast in Australia with his beautiful partner Cara, has a great relationship with his kids and has found new musical inspiration which he attributes to his 19 years of being alc...
Dec 28, 2021•45 min•Season 4Ep. 20
In this episode I chat with actor Martin Dingle Wall. Marty is best known for his roles in Home And Away, Underbelly and Upper Middle Bogan. We chat about the discovery of yourself and the healing that comes when you meet it head on. Facing your demons and the rawness of really leaning in to the feelings that come up in sobriety. Using the arts and creativity as an outlet for expression and to release blockages. Building your life around sobriety and the importance of the support from other peop...
Dec 11, 2021•52 min•Season 4Ep. 19
In this episode I catch up with Fi, a neuroscientist from Melbourne who was also a participant in the HIQA Jan Challenge earlier this year. Fi signed up more as a support for her friend Kate and not only finished off the three months but along with her husband is now approaching 12 months alcohol free. In this episode we chat about the challenge, changing your self concept, feeling crappy in the first few weeks of sobriety, how being busy is an addiction in itself and how sometimes knowing stuff...
Dec 11, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 18
In this insightful episode I chat with Michael a stone mason from Western Australia. Michael resonated with drinking at a very early age and from almost the first drink he had very little control over alcohol some serious bingeing saw him decide to take a break. After years of being alcohol free living in the wilderness of Indonesia a family tragedy saw him return to the familiarity and numbing effects of alcohol which went on for decades. Serious partying and massive blackouts, failed relations...
Dec 04, 2021•52 min•Season 4Ep. 17
In this episode I catch up with Katy @graczer who spent decades trying to fit the mould of a fun drinking socialite. That kind of lifestyle comes with it perks but can also lead to some dysfunctional bingeing, Katy was experiencing blackouts, bedwetting and other negative impacts that so many of us do but still find it hard to jump off the rollercoaster. 3 years alcohol free she is now embracing life on a new level. Katie has been the driving force facilitating some big changes within her indust...
Nov 27, 2021•53 min•Season 4Ep. 16
In this episode I am back in the studio with my sober buddy and hubby Ash Grunwald. We respond to the question that is being thrown my way a lot which is can I grant myself a leave pass for Christmas and have a few drinks? Ash and I both share our perspective on this. We talk about the joys of sobriety, the reasons to stay sober, the wisdom found in the uncomfortable, navigating heavy waters and more. For more resources or to find out to register for the Jan 3 months sober challenge to go https:...
Nov 20, 2021•42 min•Season 4Ep. 15
