Have you ever felt the grip of an alcohol craving, only to feel powerless against it? In this episode, we explore the empowering technique of 'surfing the urge'. This technique is backed by by science. It alters your brain's circuitry to allow greater control over impulses and emotional regulation so that you can hit pause between a craving and knocking back your first glass. This is where freedom lies. For anyone on the path to reducing alcohol consumption or maintaining sobriety, this episode ...
May 25, 2024•21 min•Season 2Ep. 83
Have you ever woken up at 3am with a pounding heart and a regretful mind, questioning your decision to indulge in those extra drinks? Or found yourself promising to cut back, only to slip back into old habits when stress kicks in? Today Bella talks about her 10 unmistakable red flags that signal it's time to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. Whether it's the wake-up calls, the failed moderation attempts, or the realisation that you're self-medicating, we're tackling these issues head-on...
May 11, 2024•26 min•Season 2Ep. 81
Veronica Valli, a recovery coach with nearly 24 years of sobriety, and one of the "originals" of the modern alcohol free movement, joins us to share how she maintains her sober practice after all these years. Hint - she's written about how she does it in her insightful book, Soberful, which talks about 5 pillars of a sustainable sobriety, that Veronica believes are essential for a happy sober life. Listen on to hear what these are! We cover many topics in this episode, including drinking to "dea...
Apr 27, 2024•33 min•Ep. 79
Struggling with alcohol can feel like a lonely battle, but Margie Colthorpe's story offers hope and community. In our latest episode, she shares her courageous journey from addiction to recovery. Margie's turning point came with a medical emergency, which prompted her to embrace self-acceptance and embark on a path of enlightenment. Her story is a poignant reminder of the complex relationship between alcohol, personal struggles, and the search for self-worth. Margie's transformation underscores ...
Apr 20, 2024•39 min•Ep. 78
When Emma Gilmour of Hope Rising Coaching joined us, she didn't just bring a big laugh (and that we did many of!) — she brought an open conversation about her recent autism diagnosis, raising neurodivergent children, perimenopause, giving up alcohol and finding calm in a chaotic world! Sigh... Emma is just awesome. We talk about parenting children who experience the world differently, how Emma's journey to sobriety unearthed her authentic introverted self, and the ways in which society's extrove...
Apr 13, 2024•42 min•Ep. 77
Have you ever felt the weight of a wine glass tug not just at your hand but your entire life? Susan, our incredible guest and This Naked Mind certified coach, bravely opens up about her transition from stress-induced drinking to a vibrant alcohol-free existence, offering an intimate look at the liberation that comes with breaking free from the bottle. Through her narrative, Susan paints a vivid picture of her past - from her acting days to touring Australia - and how she came to the profound rea...
Apr 06, 2024•44 min•Season 3Ep. 76
Imagine waking up to a life where the haze of alcohol no longer clouds your clarity, a life where wellness and sobriety walk hand in hand. That's the transformative journey Trish Tucker May, nutritionist and founder of Passion4Juice, shares with us in a revealing conversation about the complexities of alcohol addiction and the pursuit of health. Trish lays bare her own struggles, from the grip of 'mummy's little helper' to a powerful rebirth into sobriety, offering a treasure trove of wisdom for...
Mar 23, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 74
Justine Whitchurch was on our TVs in the 90's, thriving on the surface, but drinking to soothe anxiety and OCD underneath. In this episode, Justine's story reveals the harsh realities of addiction—how it can lead us to isolation, shame, near death — and turn us into someone we hardly recognise. As with many of us, Justine's dependence on alcohol slowly grew and eventually took over. Following a family intervention, after nearly dying from alcohol poisoning, Justine surrendered to recovery. From ...
Mar 16, 2024•44 min•Season 3Ep. 73
Have you ever reached for a glass of wine to wash away the blues, only to find the weight of the world heavier on your shoulders? It's a story many of us know all too well. In our latest chat, Meg unravels the intricate ties between alcohol and depression, making sense of how this coping mechanism can backfire and deepen our struggles with mental health. We don't just skim the surface; our conversation dives into the physiological disruptions caused by alcohol, how it shifts the body's equilibri...
Mar 09, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 72
When Janet Grand swapped her hectic London life for Cape Town, little did she know that her own journey to sobriety would inspire the birth of Tribe Sober, a fabulous sober community, supporting individuals to feel less alone as they embark on their mission to drink less alcohol. Janet talks about the power of connection as a motivating force to help people recover from addiction and how a community of like minded individuals sharing the common goal of beating the booze can take away the shame a...
Mar 02, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 71
Have you ever found yourself trapped in the cycle of binge drinking, wondering if there's a way out? Colleen Clifford, a health and alcohol recovery coach, joins us to share her harrowing yet hopeful journey from the depths of alcohol dependency to the freedom of sobriety. Her raw account delves into the social seduction of binge drinking, the denial that blankets it, and the pivotal moments that spurred her transformation. We also navigate the post-alcohol challenges of eating habits, offering ...
Feb 24, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 70
Today we welcome Natalie West, a high-performance psychotherapist whose innovative work is forging new paths in treating alcohol dependency. This episode promises to redefine your perspective on the role of nutrition in habit change and offers a fresh understanding of how our earliest experiences and value systems shape our subconscious and our habits. Discover the often-ignored impact of alcohol on your gut health and energy levels, and why aligning your actions with your personal values is the...
Feb 17, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 69
Meg hadn't realised how her drinking at social events to ease her anxiety, was going to eventually turn into a secretive habit. In a heartfelt conversation, Meg opens up about how her drinking evolved into a coping mechanism for social anxiety. What started as a way to ease into social situations gradually became a reliance on alcohol for solitude, revealing the often-hidden story of concealed drinking. Her journey sheds light on the slippery slope into isolation and dependency, addressing both ...
Feb 10, 2024•13 min•Season 3Ep. 68
It’s underground. It’s shameful. It’s dangerous and it is happening in households all around us. Many hiding their drinking look great on the outside (for a while, for years even) and many do not know why they are doing it. They want out, but it’s a really hard behaviour to fess up to. It’s very personal, runs deep and very confusing. In this episode, we delve into the often-overlooked issue of secret drinking. We chat about the reasons behind this behaviour and its potential consequences. From ...
Feb 03, 2024•25 min•Season 3Ep. 67
Embarking on an introspective expedition, we're joined by the insightful Health and Wellbeing Coach, Sarah Rustbatch, who shares a candid narrative of her personal evolution from the grips of teenage drinking to the liberation of sobriety. Her story is set against the backdrop of Northern England's culture where alcohol is woven into the fabric of social bonding, from school years to the professional world. As we traverse Sarah's experiences, you're invited to contemplate the profound impact of ...
Jan 27, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 66
Have you ever raised a glass, seeking pleasure, only to find yourself in a less-than-sunny place once the buzz fades? That's the deceptive dance of alcohol that Annie Grace of "This Naked Mind" illuminates so well. The short-lived pleasure of alcohol only leads to more discomfort, a truth that's both harsh and liberating. By understanding the science of these alcohol-induced dysphorias, and how our bodies build defence mechanisms against this artificial euphoria, we can extinguish our desire to ...
Jan 20, 2024•11 min•Season 3Ep. 65
Reflecting on the reckless abandon of our youths, we never imagined the nights of heavy drinking would evolve into a lifestyle fraught with risks and regrets. Join Meg and Bella as we peel away the layers of Australia's binge drinking culture, sharing raw and honest tales from our past. We take you through the high-risk initiation rites of youth, the pressure to maintain this hazardous habit, and the urgent need for new, healthier traditions of celebration. In this candid conversation, we also d...
Jan 13, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 63
As the clock struck midnight this New Year's Eve, Bella and Meg celebrated not with clinking glasses, but with a toast to clarity and vitality. We're kicking off the podcast with a heart-to-heart about the serenity of our alcohol-free festivities and the uplifting start to another year of sobriety. We open up about the empowering decision to share this journey publicly – a move that's reinforced our commitment and chipped away at the stigma sometimes tied to sobriety. It's not just a personal vi...
Jan 06, 2024•21 min•Season 3Ep. 62
Jolene Park joins us this episode to talk about the importance of prioritising the nourishment of your nervous system and neurotransmitters when quitting drinking. Jolene explains why a “bottom up” approach focussing on rewiring, replenishing and repairing the nervous system is vital to the success of drinking less long term. Do you drink to relax, destress, numb anxiety or soothe an activated nervous system (most do!)? Then it is essential to incorporate resources to calm the nervous system int...
Dec 30, 2023•46 min•Ep. 61
Picture the scene - a harried mom at the end of a tiring day, reaching for a glass of wine to unwind. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? We've all been there, but have you ever truly considered how this habit impacts us and our children? Let's challenge this perception together as we welcome our special guest, Chrissy Jannega, a certified alcohol-free mindset success and NLP coach. Chrissy opens up passionately about her personal struggle with alcohol and body image, her journey to sobriety, and her i...
Dec 16, 2023•39 min•Season 2Ep. 59
Our guest today, Susan Hodgson, is an Irish coach living in France, who helps expats to drink less and find a welcoming sober community abroad. We discuss how Susan made the choice to step away from alcohol after experiencing anxiety and worried that her alcohol use may be exacerbating it. We also discuss the startling differences between Irish and French drinking cultures and how it can be hard to drink less as an expat when you are trying to find friends and fit into another culture where wine...
Dec 09, 2023•51 min•Season 2Ep. 58
In this episode, Michelle Cunniff, an alcohol mindset coach, takes us on an intimate journey that traces her path from over-drinking to fully embracing a healthier lifestyle. Through candid conversations, we delve into her early forays into drinking during high school and college, and how this habit evolved and became a crutch during periods of loneliness and boredom. Michelle's story is a testament to the transformational power of choosing sobriety and breaking free from the cycle of over-drink...
Dec 02, 2023•53 min•Season 2Ep. 58
Are you sick of 'meetings' at the pub? Do you feel pressured to drink when networking or feel anxious before 'Happy Hour' and dread the inevitable hangover? Do you wish being part of your work's 'inner sanctum' didn't necessitate downing bucketloads of alcohol? Surely, there is another way for the workplace to be safer, more inclusive and healthier! Today we are joined by the remarkable (and very funny!) Janet Hadley, Director of Choose Sunrise, and founder of the innovative Alcohol Safe Workpla...
Nov 25, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 57
What if you could navigate the complexities of menopause with a little help from nutrition and lifestyle changes? Join us for a meaningful conversation with registered nutritionist and author Emma Bardwell, as we delve into the lesser-known facets of menopause and its impacts. Emma provides startling insights into Peri-Menopause, a phase that can span up to 12 years. We uncover how many women, unsure of what to expect during this period, use alcohol as a coping mechanism, leading to further heal...
Nov 18, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Ever wondered when a stay in a rehabilitation treatment centre might be necessary? What can you expect if you or a loved one is considering spending some time in one? What does an average day look like in rehab? Today we discuss these questions and more with Ruth Limkin, Chief Development Officer of Sana Health Group, which coordinates a network of Australia's three leading treatment centres located in some of the most beautiful parts of the world: The Banyans Healthcare in Queensland, Byron Pri...
Nov 11, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Picture this: You're living in bustling Brooklyn, where bars dot the streets and nights blend into days. This was Justin's reality, a continuous cycle of drinking and living the fast-paced city life. In this enlightening conversation, Justin, a fellow alcohol recovery coach, and Meg share our personal journeys to sobriety. From navigating the social norms of drinking in cosmopolitan cities like Brooklyn and Amsterdam to finally finding the strength to refuse a drink, our experiences serve as a t...
Nov 04, 2023•44 min•Season 2Ep. 54
Today, Shaun Palmer of Revive Sobriety Coaching, shares his powerful story of breaking his family's generational cycle of alcohol dependence to become an alcohol free man who now helps other men and women to drink less. This is a story of resilience, strength and transformation. We discuss the societal pressures that often lead men to become alcohol dependent and the obstacles they face in obtaining help. We also explore the emerging alcohol-free movement in Perth, the need for accessible sobrie...
Oct 28, 2023•44 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Can you imagine being ensnared by the grip of alcohol, as a young 14-year-old, in a culture where there's no age limit on drinking? That's the hard-hitting reality of our guest, Karina Koplock, who found herself in a suffocating relationship with alcohol, a journey that began in her Mother's native land, Peru. A high-functioning individual, it took Karina years to admit the toll her addiction was taking on her health, her relationships, and her sanity. Karina had a swift wake-up call when her so...
Oct 21, 2023•45 min•Season 2Ep. 52
As Ali says "if I can kick the booze, anyone can!" Ali, a beacon of strength and resilience, provides hopes to others trying to quit alcohol as she bravely shares her life’s story and path to sobriety. Ali talks about her childhood, relationships and the poignant moments that led to her awakening to get sober and stay sober. Ali's story is a stark reminder that addiction isn't about a lack of willpower—it's a battle against something that's chemically designed to be habit-forming. Ali regained t...
Oct 14, 2023•58 min•Season 2Ep. 51
As we toast to our 50th episode of Not Drinking Today, we couldn't help but feel a wave of gratitude and a dash of pride. We've come a long way since our first podcast, and your 5-star reviews and positive feedback have been our guiding lights. We enjoy quite a few laughs in this episode, also celebrating Meg's 50th birthday! Fabulous and Fifty all round! In this special episode, we take a candid look at the bumps along the way - the slip-ups. But here's the catch - these slip-ups aren't failure...
Oct 07, 2023•35 min•Season 2Ep. 50
