We know it's very cosy within the safe confines of home with your tea, chocolate biscuits and Netflix..... So, why leave? Today Vic and Hamish find out why it's essential to tip toe out of that very appealing comfort zone when you go sober, share some things they have been afraid of in the past and find a process to use to help get over their irrational worry and really feel the fear and do it anyway. They hope that by the end of today’s episode you will decide to try something new, replace the ...
Feb 26, 2023•53 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Grief and alcohol have sadly been intrinsically linked for as long as we can remember. It has somehow become as commonplace to get drunk at a funeral as it is at a wedding!? Losing somebody you love can be one of the toughest things you can go through in your life. As a result, many sadly turn to the bottle. It might cost you your sobriety or it might be the trigger that begins an unhealthy relationship with alcohol altogether. Here's the news flash though - alcohol will not help 'take the edge ...
Feb 19, 2023•50 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Did you drink to fit in? Is this because you wanted people to like you? Does it matter? After a few months of getting sober the true you begins to sneak out from under that big safe layer of booze. You begin to question yourself and seek answers as to why you act in the way you do. It's confronting, and very exciting. Finding authenticity and letting go of being a people pleaser are both part of this process. In this vulnerable episode of Sober Awkward, Vic reveals some of her more extreme peopl...
Feb 12, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 7
You learnt the periodic table, you can tell me what year the Battle of Hastings was and you think you are right in saying that a pentagon has 5 sides…but what did you learn at school about alcohol? Probably nothing at all! Is there anything else in our lives that we spend as much time, money and energy on but know so little about? In this episode, Vic and Hamish are re-entering the classroom to take a look at exactly how they would like alcohol to be taught as a subject in schools. They will cov...
Feb 05, 2023•45 min•Season 5Ep. 6
How much should we tell our teenagers about alcohol. Do you blurt out everything? Be honest about all your past misdemeanours and unruly behaviour or do lie, pretend none of it happened and hope for the best? Today in this funny and uplifting episode, Vic and Hamish follow on from the parenting chat to take a look into how to talk to teens about drinking and how to get your kids to trust you before alcohol comes on the scene. They cover the importance of keeping open the lines of communication a...
Jan 29, 2023•59 min•Season 5Ep. 5
NEWS FLASH: Becoming a parent changes your life! Who knew? The day you or your partner finds out they are pregnant - everything changes! And it might just change your attitude towards drinking too...for better and for worse! In Vic and Hamish - you have two people who took opposite paths. (Oh, and in case you hadn't figured it out yet - you also get the opinion of a Mum and a Dad!) In today's episode you will hear how becoming a parent affected both of their drinking and they will share some tip...
Jan 22, 2023•58 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Once you have given up drinking for a while, there is a chance that three little words will slowly creep into your mind - 'One Won't Hurt.' You begin to convince yourself that you can go back to alcohol even though it has caused so much trouble! That naughty pixie that disappeared in sobriety, has snuck back on the scene and is whispering in your ear - 'Come on. Don't be boring! You've proved you can abstain, one won't hurt.' and you find yourself tuning in. "Maybe one will be ok? Yes! - That's ...
Jan 15, 2023•55 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Sticks and stones may break my bones. But words shall never hurt me...until they do! We have all been labelled throughout our lives. Labelled in our childhoods, labelled in our drinking years and now - most probably - labelled in our sobriety. In this week's episode, Hamish and Vic, take a look at where labels originated in our society. Why not all labels are necessarily bad and how you can use them to your advantage. Ultimately, we should we aiming for a place where what people say or think of ...
Jan 08, 2023•46 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Good Morning 2023! Are you hungover? Did you go out and not stop at one like you promised? Are you feeling like shit? Are waves of shame crashing, tinged with a bit of anxiety? Are you having flashbacks of bad robot dancing and rolling around on a dance floor with your pants on display? Have you just googled 'Am I an Alcoholic?' Well, don't worry! We've all been there, done that. You'll be please to hear that Vic and Hamish are going to make you a cup of hot chocolate, give you a cuddle and ensu...
Dec 31, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 5Ep. 1
What is a craving? Can sober people ever look forward to a time when no longer get them? And is it really possible to enjoy Christmas Day without booze playing on your mind? Today Vic and Hamish talk to William Porter. William is the Author of the amazing book ‘Alcohol Explained’ and last time Vic chatted to him on Sober Awkward he broke down ‘the day in the life of the over drinker.’ which was one of thier most popular episodes. In this special Christmas Eve episode they want to go deeper…and d...
Dec 23, 2022•54 min•Season 4Ep. 22
It's Christmas! Well, nearly! Let's face it, Christmas is a tough time for sober people! Not only the actual day itself, the entire frantic build up can make you want to hide in a hole until February. There is a certain amount of pressure to join in, follow the merry crowd. We There are Christmas parties, work functions, family drinking traditions and long walks to pubs after too many roast potatoes. Habits so ingrained that us sober people want to run for the hills... or worse, cave in under th...
Dec 18, 2022•52 min•Season 4Ep. 21
Today, Vic and Hame have a quick chat about the importance of being loud and proud in sobriety, why your voice is significant and how telling the world you story will help others that come after you. Then, stay tuned to hear the recording of Vic's speech at the Byron Theatre. Hear how she faced her fears of public speaking and told her story. Vic, describes in detail what it was like to realise she needed help to quit booze, and the affect her drinking had on her mental health... and her family....
Dec 11, 2022•35 min•Season 4Ep. 20
It’s time to polish off the banners, put on your green army jacket and CND badge, march to the doors of parliament and declare your allegiance to the sober revolution. Yes comrades, today we want to cause a riot and find out why sobriety is having a social mutiny. Yes, today Vic and Hamish and going to find out why sobriety is trending and dig into the reasons more people are deciding to give up on grog. Is it due to the pandemic? Does social media play a part? or are people just more aware of t...
Dec 04, 2022•42 min•Season 4Ep. 19
Whether you are joining a sporting team or simply wanting to watch a game with friends - alcohol and sport appear to be intrinsically linked. Why is this the case when sport is about elite athletic performance? Drinking is the antithesis of this. Trust us! (Have you ever tried to compete in a sack race after one too many? Two words come to mind. Face. Plant. In this week's episode Vic and Hamish roll back the wheels of time to take a look at when this all began. They explore the dangers of this ...
Nov 27, 2022•41 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Whether it's a 7am pint in the airport Wetherspoons to 'get you in the holiday mood' or a Gin and Tonic at 10 thousand feet because they are free (!) - it is often difficult to avoid alcohol when flying. Airports and flights have sadly been the setting for many a relapse. The rules are different. Socially acceptable times to binge drink fly out of the window in the name of 'holiday'! In this week's episode Hamish and Vic take a deeper look into why so many turn to the bottle on travel days. Hame...
Nov 20, 2022•45 min•Season 4Ep. 17
Let's talk about making sober mates and boundaries. When you get sober sometimes friendships change. Some people surprise you by being supportive and sticking by you, while others find your changes hard to handle and disappear from your life. In part two of the friendship episodes, Vic and Hame have a chat about boundaries. Why it's vital to learn what they are and how you can implement them in your new sober life and they give you some great tips on why having a few mates that don't drink will ...
Nov 13, 2022•31 min•Season 4Ep. 16
Let's talk about mates. When you get sober sometimes friendships change. Some people surprise you by being supportive and sticking by you, while others find your changes hard to handle and disappear from your life. It can be upsetting, shocking and disappointing when mates turn their backs, so today on Sober Awkward Vic and Hame are going to have a chat about the intricacy of friendships and how they have navigated this tricky and emotional part of sobriety. Today you will find out why Vic finds...
Nov 06, 2022•44 min•Season 4Ep. 15
How do I do it? How do I celebrate a party or numb out the horrors of a miserable piece of news without alcohol? It is a question many of us will face over and over again in our sobriety. Not to mention all the many mini highs and lows in between. Do you want to know a secret? Its time to feel the feels. Gone are the days of numbing out emotions. Today is your day to feel each and every one of them. Being present is one of the superpowers of sobriety and although facing these situations might ap...
Oct 30, 2022•42 min•Season 4Ep. 14
It's time to let it go people! Today Vic and Hamish are here to tell you about all those awful antics they got up to when under the influence and discover that none of it was their fault - it was booze! In this funny episode they dredge up three of their more shameful misdemeanours in the safety of the booth. Hamish tells a few puke stories and Vic reminisces about the time she locked someone in a room for 12 hours.... don't worry it's not as bad as it sounds! They've also created a 'Shame Shed ...
Oct 23, 2022•42 min•Season 4Ep. 13
For some of us sober folk, alcohol free drinks have been the saviour. The magical invisibility cloak that allows us to blend into social gatherings. Whilst for others - they are very much part of the problem. They can be the trigger that pushes us off the wagon and straight back into drinking. Today the guys take a peek into the benefits and risks of this exploding industry. They have tasted the great ones, the medium ones and the cats piss of the alcohol free world! Hamish and Vic discuss the r...
Oct 16, 2022•43 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Are you thinking about giving up drinking, but something is stopping you going 100% sober? If so, this episode is for you. It will bombard you with laughs and loads of rational reasons to take the plunge into an alcohol-free life. It's an episode jam packed with the good news, that’s not all skin deep! It’s a fact, sobriety makes your skin clear, your eyes so bright and you generally look much healthier but just because you look good - does that mean you’re really happy? Today the guys dig deepe...
Oct 09, 2022•40 min•Season 4Ep. 11
"Just have one!" "Come on! The 'old' you would have done it!" "You can sleep when your dead!" Sounds familiar right? Peer pressure and drinking have gone hand-in-hand since day one. Whether it's the pressure to drink for the first time or to break your sobriety in the name of 'having a good time'! Vic and Hamish are both guilty of using peer pressure and giving in to it over the course of their lives. In this weeks episode, you'll learn about what peer pressure really is, why it affects us so mu...
Oct 02, 2022•40 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Does the thought of a sober Near Year’s Eve fill you with dread? Can you imagine attending a festival with nothing to lean on except a can of fizzy water? And how on earth do sober people survive Mardi Gras without downing a few shots of Tequila before heading to the club? Going to big events ‘totally-tea-total’ can certainly change the vibe. It’s overwhelming watching everyone around you get wide-eyed and wasted while you tap your foot and plaster a fake sober smile across your face. If you are...
Sep 25, 2022•41 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Men and women communicate differently. Shock! Horror! You heard it here first. In this episode Hamish and Vic have an honest and open conversation behind what might be causing men to struggle when it comes to opening up emotionally. It is no secret that vulnerabilities are still considered a weakness rather than a strength by many and this might be the reason behind so many men turning to alcohol as a means of opening up or numbing out their feelings. The effects of this on men's mental health a...
Sep 18, 2022•39 min•Season 4Ep. 8
If like Hamish and Vic you've ever got three sheets to the wind, blackout wasted and wondered why one minute you’re in a London bar ordering tequila shots, and the next your waking up in a bunk bed in run down motel in Madrid with twigs in your hair, wearing one shoe, then we hope this episode will make you think twice about over drinking. So what is really happening in your brain after accepting one too many Sambuka shots? One minute you're having the best night of your life and the next you're...
Sep 11, 2022•38 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Time. In sobriety it can be your greatest ally or your most fearsome enemy. Either way, you now have a lot more of it! How you spend that spare time, is down to you. In this weeks episode Vic and Hamish explore the hobbies that have worked for them and warn of others that almost drove them back to the bottle. You'll hear about some pastimes that got left by the wayside when drinking entered the fray. Vic used to collect rubbers...not those ones...don't ask! Whilst Hamish walks you through his 'G...
Sep 04, 2022•40 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Question - Are one night stands fun?... or are they actually a bit weird? Today Vic and Hamish discuss the reality of sleeping with someone you don't know. They uncover how these brief pissed-up liaisons made them feel deflated and how this sticky scenario can differ for men and women. Today we find out why Vic always hoped that each chance meeting would lead to love... and how Hamish was just happy to involved in any sexy downstairs disco! So, if you've ever felt a little yucky after a hook-up ...
Aug 28, 2022•40 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Many of us believe drinking alcohol makes us more confident. You may think that booze can help introverts come a little out of their shells and help extroverts turn things up to 100! But is this actually the case? In this weeks episode Vic and Hamish take a deeper look at whether the authentic version of themselves without alcohol is still an extrovert or whether this personality has been manufactured by Jaeger bombs! As always, they will take a look at the Science behind how alcohol might affec...
Aug 21, 2022•47 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Have you ever wondered if your drinking habit is inherited or were you just born to be a party animal? Join Vic and Haim as they create a delicious pie chart of fuckupery! Today they uncover all the elements that cause people to over drink, discuss the booze family tree, and how ingrained family traits affected them growing up. Was it nature or nurture or just the environments they placed themselves in that made them into binge drinkers? In this episode they dig deep, take responsibility for pas...
Aug 14, 2022•42 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Have you ever taken a moment to truly consider the cost of your drinking? We're not just talking about the cost to your health, but the equally concerning cost to your finances. In this weeks episode Vic and Hamish explore the hidden costs of a night out. From rounds of drinks to taxi rides – from police fines to late night kebabs. They dig into the empty wallet that comes with being party animals and cringe over the money they've both pissed away through a lifetime of boozing! If you're fed up ...
Aug 07, 2022•40 min•Season 4Ep. 2
