Podcasts about sober awkward

As a special treat to celebrate the final episode of Series 13, I'm delighted to welcome Hamish back to the podcast for a proper catch-up.Yes, he's still sober. Yes, he's still awkward. And yes, he's still as funny as ever.We chat about what life has looked like since leaving the show, how sobriety is going, and what he's learned along the way. Hamish is proof that you don't have to be a stereotypical “problem drinker” to experience the benefits of going alcohol-free. Sometimes life simply gets bigger, better and a whole lot more interesting without booze in the driver's seat.Expect laughs, awkward moments, a few reflections on the good old days, and a reminder of why so many of us fell in love with the lanky one in the first place.It's great to have him back.Be warned, as per usual, there is naughty talk about bodily functions.

Dry July, No Drama: Daily Tips for a Take It or Leave It Relationship With Alcohol Episode 16: You Are Where You Put Your Attention - Dry July, No Drama You are where you put your attention. So put your attention in the right places. Preparation is everything. You can absolutely go into denial and drink as much as you can before 1 July hits and then go "right, that's it" - but while you do that, start immersing yourself in the culture too. Read some of the books. My favourites, in order of preference: Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker We Are the Luckiest by Laura McKowen This Naked Mind by Annie Grace Follow podcasts like mine - MidlifeAF - or I also love Sober Awkward, Present and Sober Podcast, and How I Quit Alcohol. Follow social media people who are on the sober curious journey. Surround yourself with information from people who have walked this path before you - and have learnt the things that will help you get where you want to go. Wherever that is. You can hear all 30 of these daily tips throughout July on my MidlifeAF Podcast Mini Series - wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is part of Dry July, No Drama - a daily MidlifeAF podcast mini series with tips for cutting back on alcohol without willpower, labels or forever. Are you tired of the mental back-and-forth about drinking? I am running a FREE 3-Day Alcohol Reset on 23, 24 and 25 June, 7pm Melb/Syd (replays available). No willpower talk. No abstinence pressure. You can even drink while you do it. A judgement-free space to learn the tools to step into a take it or leave it relationship with alcohol. See links below: FREE TOOLS - four beautiful resources to help you drink less and feel fabulous: 7 Steps to Take Back Control of Alcohol - the exact steps I took when I started out on this journey nearly five years ago. https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/7-steps Awareness Worksheets - if you do nothing else, working through the answers to these questions will change your relationship with alcohol for the better. https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/awareness-worksheets-opt-in Your North Star Visualisation - stops your brain freaking out about doing something unfamiliar. https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/northstarvisualisation Grounding Meditation - you know that feeling when you have a drink and the body goes "aaaaaaaahhhhhhh" and everything seems to relax? What the body really needs is to ground - to come back home to self, and for self to feel lovely. That is what we work on in my live programs. We start every session with a grounding and connect with ourselves to find out what our body really needs when it thinks it wants to drink. https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/grounding READY TO GO DEEPER? Ready to make alcohol a non-issue? Watch my free one-hour masterclass: 5 Surprising Ways Taking a Break from Booze Can Be Effortless and Change Your Life. One hour. Five shifts. Your take it or leave it relationship with alcohol starts here. WATCH NOW FOR FREE: https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/masterclass Are you tired of the mental back-and-forth about drinking? I am running a FREE 3-Day Alcohol Reset on 23, 24 and 25 June, 7pm Melb/Syd (replays available). No willpower talk. No abstinence pressure. You can even drink while you do it. A judgement-free space to learn the tools to step into a take it or leave it relationship with alcohol. REGISTER FREE: https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/3-day-reset Want a take it or leave it relationship with alcohol? Want to stop all the "will I, won't I" internal conflict around wine? I am running the Great Aussie Alcohol Experiment LIVE from Wednesday 1 July. 30 days. Small group coaching. Only 25 spots. Small, intimate and private. Rewire your brain and nervous system so you no longer have to reach for a glass to quieten your busy brain, calm your overwhelmed soul or socialise when your social battery is spent. Early bird pricing open now - $500 off the full price, plus two 1:1 counselling sessions with me and 3 webinars included (worth +$1,000). We won't run this live again until October. YOUR NEXT RIGHT MOVE STARTS HERE: https://www.hoperisingcoaching.com/the_great_aussie_alcohol_experiment Change happens in a moment, my friends - the preparation for change takes a little bit of time. Take the time. You will be amazed at the difference it makes.

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic steps away from alcohol to explore another addiction that is quietly growing across Australia: Nangs.Nitrous oxide, often sold legally and delivered to your door within minutes, is commonly seen as harmless party fun. But for Sam Bramman, what started as a few nangs at a house party quickly spiralled into a devastating addiction that led to psychosis, hospitalisation and a long road to recovery.Sam shares the shocking reality of what happened when nitrous oxide took over his life, including the psychotic episode that saw him drive from Sydney to the Gold Coast before ending up in a psychiatric ward. He talks openly about addiction, recovery and why he believes Australia needs stronger regulation around the sale and delivery of nitrous oxide.Now the founder of the No 2 Nangs campaign, Sam is using his experience to educate young people, support families and push for change. He is also preparing to run 350 kilometres from Sydney to Parliament House in Canberra to raise awareness of the issue and campaign for greater public education around a substance he describes as both legal and lethal.It's an eye-opening conversation about addiction, vulnerability, recovery and a drug many of us know very little about. Follow Sam's work: Instagram: @sambramman TikTok: @stepsforchange

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic sits down with TJ Power, a well-known neuroscientist, author of the Sunday Times bestseller The DOSE Effect, and the founder of the DOSE Lab. He is a leading voice in demystifying brain chemistry, focusing on helping people manage digital burnout, phone addiction, and overstimulation in the modern world.TJ shares his own story of changing his relationship with alcohol, including a powerful epiphany at a music festival that made him completely rethink what connection, fun and presence really mean. Together, they explore the surprising similarities between alcohol addiction and phone addiction, and why both are fuelled by the same dopamine-driven reward systems in the brain.The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Vic has a rather uncomfortable realisation of her own. Eight years sober and feeling quite smug about no longer disappearing into bottles of wine, she suddenly discovers she's been disappearing into something else instead… her phone.In a moment that feels a bit like being caught snogging behind the bike sheds, Vic realises she may be neglecting her children in exactly the same way she used to neglect them with alcohol. Not physically absent, but mentally elsewhere. Half listening. Half scrolling. Forever saying, “Just one second, darling…”It's a surprisingly emotional moment as TJ explains that the dopamine hits from our phones aren't a million miles away from the rewards we chase through alcohol, and Vic starts to wonder whether she's simply swapped one distraction for another.This episode isn't about throwing your phone in the sea or moving to a cave. It's about becoming curious about the habits that quietly shape our lives.And make sure you listen right to the end, because Vic returns with a surprising update after attempting her own digital detox weekend.A fascinating conversation that might just make you question your scrolling as much as your drinking.Find TJ here - @tjpower@doselab - Order the book now - https://a.co/d/0fghgGAcwww.thedoselab.com

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic chats to James Swanwick about high-functioning drinking, success, pressure and the growing movement of people choosing to live alcohol free — not because they've completely fallen apart, but because they simply feel better without it.James is an Australian stop drinking expert, author, investor, entrepreneur and former SportsCenter anchor on ESPN. He is the creator of stop drinking organisation, Alcohol Free Lifestyle, which helps business owners and executives finally break free from alcohol without AA, rehab or willpower. Together, Vic and James unpack the myth that alcohol problems only affect people at “rock bottom” and explore why high achievers often struggle silently for years. They chat about identity, pride, social pressure, parenting, masculinity, success and why being outwardly functional can actually make it harder to admit something isn't working.They also explore a really interesting question:Can giving up alcohol sometimes be less about “having a problem”… and more about choosing a different lifestyle entirely?Plus there's chat about celebrity alcohol brands, the rise of the alcohol-free movement, Gen Z turning away from booze and why many people are beginning to realise that alcohol may be taking far more than it gives.This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered:“Do I actually need to wait for things to get worse before I make a change?”Enjoy!Find James' work here - IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamesswanwick/FB: https://web.facebook.com/AlcoholFreeLifestylehttps://web.facebook.com/JamesSwanwickOfficialYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlcoholFreeLifestylehttps://www.youtube.com/@JamesSwanwickTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesswanwickSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5253hMZWPlEWj6AVodbkC7Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alcohol-free-lifestyle/id1518416850X: https://x.com/jamesswanwickAFL Website: https://alcoholfreelifestyle.com/

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic chats to Hattie Underwood, the London-based mum of two behind Sober Happy Free, who has recently been speaking out across the UK media about the worrying rise of alcohol delivery services. After loads of Sober Awkward listeners tagged Vic in clips saying, “You HAVE to get her on the podcast!”… here she is.Now five years sober, Hattie openly shares the raw reality of addiction through lived experience, challenging stigma and reminding people that absolutely anyone can struggle with alcohol — and anyone deserves the chance to recover, one day at a time.Having appeared on Good Morning Britain, Channel 5 News and the BBC, Hattie is also using her voice to campaign with Alcohol Change UK and raise awareness around the dangers of modern drinking culture.Together they explore what happens when booze never really runs out. No awkward shuffle to the bottle shop. No eye contact with the cashier. No closing time. No moment to pause and think, “Hang on… maybe this is getting a bit much.” Just a bloke in a helmet arriving at your doorstep with another bottle and zero questions asked.Hattie explains how alcohol delivery services quietly escalated her drinking, why these apps can become so dangerous, and how the convenience and secrecy of “alcohol on demand” is creating growing concerns in both the UK and Australia.They chat about shame, loneliness, high-functioning drinking, dependency and the terrifying reality of alcohol being available in under thirty minutes, right at the exact moment someone is most vulnerable.Plus Vic asks herself a slightly uncomfortable question:What would her own drinking have looked like if the booze literally never ran out?Follow @soberhappyfree to join Hattie on her sobriety journey. https://www.instagram.com/soberhappyfreehttps://www.tiktok.com/@soberhappyfree?_r=1&_t=ZN-96MLDO3Z0oY

In this episode of Love Sober Podcast, Kate talks with Victoria Vanstone, founder of Sober Awkward, writer, podcaster and author of A Thousand Wasted Sundays. Victoria shares her journey from Reading pub culture and wild backpacking years (including blowing off part of her finger with a firework) through motherhood, anxiety and the moment she realised she could “step off the roundabout” and choose a sober life. Kate and Victoria explore people‑pleasing, self‑abandonment, ADHD and rejection sensitivity, perimenopause and midlife rage, and how sobriety becomes a messy, beautiful “welcome mat” back home to yourself. Growing up in Reading pub culture, wild backpacking years and a Millennium firework accident that blew off part of her finger – Victoria Vanstone always wore chaos as a badge of honour. Motherhood, anxiety and Sunday shame finally brought her to a quiet rock bottom: “I just can't f*cking do this anymore.” We talk about people‑pleasing, self‑abandonment, ADHD and rejection sensitivity, perimenopause, and why sobriety is the most interesting thing she's ever done. Plus: social pivots in midlife, sober retreats in Thailand, the chicken dance, and rediscovering childlike joy without alcohol. Listen now on Love Sober Podcast and share with a sober or sober‑curious friend who needs this. Links & Resources Victoria Vanstone / Sober Awkward Website: [Sober Awkward] https://www.soberawkward.com/ Podcast: https://www.soberawkward.com/ Books: 1000 Wasted Sundays and Mumming: A Year of Trying and Failing to Be a Better Parent – [Book links]https://www.soberawkward.com/ Thailand sober retreats with Sober Dave: https://www.soberawkward.com/ Kate & Love Sober Love Sober website & programs: [Love Sober] https://www.lovesober.com/ Group program: Love Your Sober Summer – 6‑week group coaching for navigating summer triggers, holidays, nervous system regulation and boundaries: [Love Your Sober Summer] https://www.lovesober.com/love-your-sober-summer Books & ideas mentioned The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober – Catherine Gray Hagitude – Sharon Blackie  Women Who Run with the Wolves – Clarissa Pinkola Estés  Creatrix / Burning Woman – Lucy H. Pearce  ADHD & Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)  https://www.soberawkward.com/ Vic's new book 'Mumming - A Year of Trying to be a Better Parent' is out now!  Grab a cuppa and let's chat x 

Not really a Share Shed today…But there was a story from this week's podcast that absolutely refused to be squeezed into a normal segment. It needed its own space. Its own moment. Its own… spotlight.We had the incredible Shanna Whan on Sober Awkward this week, founder of Sober in the Country and creator of the brilliant #OK2SAYNO campaign… and somewhere in the middle of talking about life in rural Australia, sobriety, and all things outback… she casually dropped this story.It involves an invitation to the Queen's funeral.Yes. THAT.I'm not going to say anything else, because honestly, you just need to hear it.All I will say is… Shanna and I have more in common than I could have ever imagined.And it involves hats.What a story. Enjoy!To find out more about Shanna and her incredible work head to https://www.soberinthecountry.org or follow them on socials @sober_in_the_country and to help raise awareness please add #OK2SAYNO to your socials.

It feels like this conversation has been a long time coming. Vic is genuinely honoured to have Shanna Whan on the podcast this week.Shanna is the founder and CEO of Sober in the Country, a national grassroots charity that's been driving radical social impact and real change across rural and remote Australia over the past decade. Through laser-focused bush advocacy, peer-to-peer support, and a refreshingly straightforward message, she's helping shift a deeply ingrained culture.And the message is one we can all get behind, whether we drink or not: it's always #OK2SAYNO to booze.Shanna was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2025 for her significant contributions to rural community health. She was named National Australian of the Year (Local Hero) in 2022, and also took out Marie Claire's national Advocate of the Year award that same year. So yes… she's not just talking about change, she's making it happen.In this episode, they chat about life in rural Australia, the pressure to be strong, stoic, and self-reliant in farming communities, the isolation of rural life, and how hard it can be to say no to alcohol when it's so deeply ingrained.They also explore how that's starting to shift, slowly, but meaningfully. And they establish very early on that Vic would absolutely not survive in the outback, (even if she did have a hat with corks hanging off it!)This one takes you beyond the front gate and into the reality of life in the outback, an honest, eye-opening conversation with a truly remarkable human.To find out more about Shanna and her incredible work head to https://www.soberinthecountry.org or follow them on socials @sober_in_the_country and to help raise awareness please add #OK2SAYNO to your socials.

This week Vic is joined by journalist and podcaster Katie Herzog to talk about the winding, messy road many of us take trying to figure out our relationship with alcohol.Katie shares what her drinking looked like during Covid, how it quietly ramped up behind closed doors, and the strange mental gymnastics of hiding drinking from partners and pretending your fine and dandy, when really... it's all falling apart.They talk about the moment when drinking stops feeling fun and starts feeling lonely, the awkward reality of not quite connecting with AA, and the long search for something — anything — that might actually help.Eventually that search led Katie to Naltrexone, a medication used to reduce the brain's reward response to alcohol. For Katie, discovering it changed everything. Over time it helped rewire the habit loop, take away the obsessive pull toward drinking, and slowly create something she hadn't felt in a long time… freedom from alcohol.The experience was so transformative that Katie went on to write a book about it, exploring the science, the stigma, and why conversations about medication and sobriety can be so surprisingly controversial.It's an honest chat about finding your own path, challenging recovery dogma, and the strange relief of realising there might be more than one way to get sober.Find out more about Katie and buy her book here -drinkyourwaysober.comhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/163774739Xhttps://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Drink-Your-Way-Sober/Katie-Herzog/9781637747391follow her on twitter here - @kittypurrzog

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic chats with Social Media Educator and (National Association for Children of Addiction) NACOA Ambassador - Sarah Drage about the strange and sometimes complicated world of sobriety on the internet.When we stop drinking, many of us head straight online. Suddenly there are sober coaches, Instagram accounts, communities, podcasts, hashtags, and an entire digital world devoted to not drinking. For some people it becomes a lifeline. For others… it can start to feel like just another thing we're slightly addicted to.Vic gets honest about her own relationship with the online sober world, the pressure to keep creating content, and the strange reality of sharing your life with people you've never met. She often tells herself, “If it helps one person, it's worth it.” But what happens when helping strangers online starts competing with real life, family time, and your own wellbeing?And then there's the other side of the internet. The rabbit holes. You open Instagram looking for a sober quote and twenty minutes later you've somehow ended up on a page where people are putting very strange things in very strange places. How does that happen? What are they doing? And why can't we look away?You'll have to listen to find out… let's just say it involves bottoms.Find out more about Sarah here @sarah_drage Find The Children of Alcoholics Podcast here - https://hello9a.podbean.com/Ted Talk - https://tr.ee/x6tGO8cVc5

Vic had to properly brace herself for this one… sitting down with Catherine Gray, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.This is the book that completely changed the course of Vic's sobriety. The one that, for the first time, made an alcohol-free life feel exciting rather than something to endure. So yes… she tried not to gush. No promises.As expected, Vic and Catherine had plenty to share. Catherine's latest book Little Addictions dives into all the little things we lean on, the scrolling, the snacking, the busy distractions, the habits that don't look like a problem… but might quietly be running the show.From favourite reality TV to chewing gum habits and even watching traffic on the M25, nothing is off limits.Together they unpack what “little addictions” really are, and why, as sober people, we might find it easier to quit the big things… but struggle to moderate the small ones.Confused? Don't worry, it all makes sense.And if you fancy listening to two grown, sober women who have both been arrested in the past… you're in luck. (Brixton 1, Brighton 1)No shame here, but lots of laughs and honesty!

Vic sits down with William Porter to unpack one of the biggest traps in drinking culture, how alcohol became so normal we stopped questioning it.From cracking a Red Stripe on a train at 7.30am in London to planning entire nights around that first drink, this episode explores the quiet, creeping ways alcohol becomes the main event without us even noticing.They dive into where cravings really come from, why our brains keep sending us back for more even when it makes us feel awful, and how growing up surrounded by booze can make drinking feel less like a choice and more like something we were always going to do.There's also a moment so many of us will recognise, that slow realisation that feeling anxious, flat, and exhausted all the time might not just be “life”, it might be alcohol.This is the episode where things start to click, where the fog lifts a little, and where you begin to see the bigger picture.If you've ever woken up and thought “why am I doing this again?”, this one's for you.

This week in the Share Shed there is a message from someone who feels properly stuck.It's whisky, and it's creeping earlier. What used to be evenings has slowly shifted… to afternoons… and now sometimes mornings. Just a quick swig out of the bottle to steady the nerves.They've been listening to the podcast, quietly questioning things, knowing deep down something isn't right… but still lying to themselves and everyone around them.And this is the first time they've ever said it out loud. If this resonates maybe the best thing you can do is just tell one person?The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It's not about judgement, it's about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we're on the other side.If you've got a story you'd like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or slightly ridiculous, you can send it to Vic at:vic@soberawkward.comAnonymous is absolutely fine. In fact - for legal reasons - probably preferable!!and if you feel like you are in need of some extra support and you live in Australia - here are some people you can call -

This week… we're going there.Dating sober. Regretful one-night stands. The murky truth about consent. Letting go of shame. First sober sexual encounters… and yes, even prison date nights. It's all on the table.I'm joined by the brilliant Anna Wolfe, host of How To Get Wet When You're Dry, who brings both lived experience and serious journalistic insight into what actually happens after we get sober, especially when it comes to relationships and sex.We talk about the things most of us have done… but rarely unpack properly. The choices we made when alcohol was involved, the lines that got blurred, and what it looks like to navigate intimacy without it.It's honest, uncomfortable at times, and properly eye-opening.And yes… I do cringe my way through parts of it.But that's kind of the point. Because sobriety doesn't just change what we drink, it changes how we connect, how we choose, and how we show up in the most vulnerable parts of our lives.Enjoy! and you can listen to Annas podcast here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-get-wet-when-youre-dry/id1833243242or follow her here - @imannawolfe

This week in the Share Shed there is a very common story about what happns when you have too many shots at a Hen Night. A big thank you to Clare who sent it in and another question from an anonymous listener - What do you say when your friends ask why you're not drinking?The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It's not about judgement, it's about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we're on the other side.If you've got a story you'd like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or slightly ridiculous, you can send it to Vic at:vic@soberawkward.comAnonymous is absolutely fine. In fact - for legal reasons - probably preferable!!

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic chats with one of her favourite sober buddies, sobriety coach - Sarah Rusbatch about something many of us completely ignored while we were drinking… our nervous systems.For years we thought alcohol was helping us relax. Turns out it was often doing the exact opposite, keeping our bodies stuck in stress mode.Sarah breaks down what's really going on in our nervous systems, why so many of us feel wired, anxious or exhausted, and what we can actually do to regulate ourselves without reaching for a drink.Vic admits she learned loads in this chat and had a few lightbulb moments along the way. Make sure you listen right to the end for a simple breathing exercise you can try with us. And in true Sober Awkward style, Vic pops back in 24 hours later with a little update after trying a couple of the things Sarah suggested. It's amazing what a difference a day can make when you start paying attention to your nervous system.Listen wherever you get your podcasts.Find Sarah's courses, retreats, challenges and more here - https://sarahrusbatch.com@sarahrusbatchand join her amazing April alcohol reset challenge here - https://sarahrusbatch.com/30day-af-program

This week in the Share Shed there is a story that some people may relate to - involving bodily functions. Vic opens the inbox to a story that starts like many girls trips do - a night out in Greece, one too many, a nice younger man, a shag and then..... Well, Vic will let you find out the next bit!The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It's not about judgement, it's about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we're on the other side.If you've got a story you'd like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or slightly ridiculous, you can send it to Vic at:vic@soberawkward.comAnonymous is absolutely fine. In fact - for legal reasons - probably preferable!!

This week gets a little bit personal.We're talking ADHD, alcohol, and that slightly unsettling moment when you realise… maybe it wasn't just the drinking.After years of brushing it off, and being gently diagnosed by listeners in her DMs, Vic is thinking about getting assessed again. becuase last time she was tested for ADHD, it wasn't the result she expected. But now, hormones are doing their thing and perimenopause is turning the volume up on everything, and she's been feeling wired, overwhelmed, and honestly… a bit confused.So she's brought in someone who actually knows what they're talking about.Faye Laurence is an alcohol coach who specialises in ADHD, and this conversation really hits home.They get into the big questions… do people with ADHD use alcohol to self-medicate? What actually comes first, the ADHD or the drinking? And why do some traditional methods for addiction not always work for those with ADHD?They also go a bit deeper… can getting a diagnosis help you understand yourself better, and maybe even have a bit more empathy for your past and the role alcohol played in it?Vic shares openly, as always, because if she's feeling it, chances are someone else out there is too. It might make people cringe at times, putting it all out there like this, but those are the moments that get people thinking, connecting, and hopefully reaching out for help… just like she is.She'll keep you updated on how this all unfolds. She's nervous, yes… and if she's honest, a bit pissed off too. She really thought the sobriety piece was it, that she'd done the work and could just get on with life. But clearly, there's more bubbling up.And maybe that's the point.Find out more about Faye and her ADHD/Alcohol Courses and Coaching here - Links: Website: www.fayelawrence.com.au |Insta:https://www.instagram.com/_fayelawrence_ | FB: https://www.facebook.com/FayeLawrenceCoaching Kicking off 31 March - Breaking the Loop - An 8 week small group coaching program designed for ADHDers who want to change their relationship with alcohol www.fayelawrence.com.au/loop

This week in the Share Shed there is an important question - How do I start again?Today Vic opens a voicemail from a Sober Awkward listener who is in her 20's and is drinking again after a period of abstinence - she's still young, so it seems like a really hard choice - what can she do to get back on track?The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It's not about judgement, it's about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we're on the other side.If you've got a story you'd like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or slightly ridiculous, you can send it to Vic at:vic@soberawkward.comAnonymous is absolutely fine. In fact - for legal reasons - probably preferable!!

Vic is joined by Newspaper Editor, Journalist and Author, Carly Schwartz, to talk about her wild, honest new memoir I'll Try Anything Twice.Carly shares stories from her years chasing adventure around the world, from chaotic parties to a mysterious sustainable town in the Panamanian jungle. Some of the experiences were exhilarating, others risky, and along the way she began to realise that alcohol and drugs were quietly making her depression much worse.In this conversation, Carly talks openly about the moment she hit her real rock bottom, not a dramatic crash, but the quiet and confronting realisation that she might actually need help. Vic and Carly also chat about the process of turning such a complicated and vulnerable journey into a book, and what it's like to write honestly about the messy parts of your life.It's a thoughtful, funny, and very real conversation about adventure, mental health, and the long road to understanding yourself.

This week in the Share Shed, Vic opens the inbox to a story that starts like many nights used to… a few drinks with friends that quietly turns into an entire weekend you can't quite explain.Our anonymous listener describes being a full blown party animal in the late 90s, where alcohol often led to a cocktail of other substances and the kind of decisions that only make sense at the time. Let's just say this one involves chickens!The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It's not about judgement, it's about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we're on the other side.If you've got a story you'd like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or slightly ridiculous, you can send it to Vic at:vic@soberawkward.comAnonymous is absolutely fine. In fact - for legal reasons - probably preferable!!

Vic is joined by journalist and author Jenny Valentish for a warm, funny and honest conversation about introversion, overstimulation and knowing when it's time to quietly exit stage left.Jenny is the author of An Introvert's Guide to Leaving the House, a brilliant and reassuring book about navigating the world without pretending to be more extroverted than you are. It's not about becoming louder or more outgoing. It's about understanding your social limits, honouring your wiring and building a life that actually suits you.Both originally from Berkshire, Vic and Jenny bond over British roots and swap stories about “brownouts”, and no, it's not what you think. They chat about social batteries, the pressure to perform, and how to recognise when you've tipped from “coping fine” into “I need to go home immediately”.If you've ever stayed too long out of politeness, or wondered whether staying in is self-care or avoidance, this episode will help you work it out. And yes, sometimes the most emotionally intelligent thing you can do is leave early and go home to watch MAFS.Find out more about Jenny and her incredible books and more at instagram.com/jennyvalentish_publicAnd valentish.net because she loves nothing more than helping people write their addiction stories as a writing teacher.

This week in the Share Shed, Vic opens the inbox and shares one of those stories that perfectly sums up the chaos of drinking days.Listener James from Gloucester writes in with a tale from his travelling years that starts with a few innocent drinks on a river in Cambodia… and somehow ends with him accidentally buying more than he bargained for!It's funny, slightly unbelievable, and a perfect reminder of the kind of decisions that can happen when booze is involved and your brain has politely clocked off for the evening.Vic also talks about why sharing these stories matters. The Share Shed isn't about shaming ourselves for the past, it's about laughing, learning and realising we're not the only ones who've woken up thinking… “what on earth happened last night?”If you've got a story of your own, something funny, awkward, cringe-worthy, or even just a question about booze and sobriety, Vic would love to hear it.You can send your stories (anonymous is absolutely fine) to:vic@soberawkward.com

Awkward questions. Clumsy confessions. Zero judgement. Today, it's all about someone Vic knows very well....Welcome to The Share Shed, the corner of Sober Awkward where we fling open the doors, air out the embarrassing bits, and finally stop carrying the stories that have been rattling around in our heads for years.These are your questions and confessions.The ones you've never said out loud. The nights you still cringe about in the shower. The moments that pop into your brain at 3am and make you want to crawl into the mattress. Traffic cones, family parties, one-night stands, run-ins with the police, bins, balconies, and that one thing everyone remembers even though you desperately wish they wouldn't.Some are funny. Some are painful. Most are both.In The Share Shed, listeners write in anonymously to share their drinking stories, shame spirals, and “why am I still thinking about this?” moments. We read them out, laugh where we can, get honest where it hurts, and gently unpack how shame sticks around long after the booze has gone, and how to finally loosen its grip.This isn't about reliving the chaos.It's about letting it go.Because shame thrives in silence, and nothing deflates it faster than saying, “This happened to me too.” Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or just questioning your relationship with alcohol, this is a place where you don't have to be polished, healed, or have it all figured out.Just human.If you've got a story you're sick of carrying, a question you're scared to ask, or a drunken ghost you'd quite like evicted from your brain, send it in to vic@soberawkward.com..We'll tuck it safely away in the Share Shed where it belongs, instead of letting it haunt you forever.New Share Shed episodes drop Thursdays.Come as you are.Leave a little lighter.

Is alcohol confidence, connection, and a doorway back to yourself, or is it a liquid barrier that keeps you further away?In this episode, Vic is joined by Australian broadcaster and former Triple J presenter Mel Bampton. Now 15 years sober, Mel has come full circle back to radio after spending years rebuilding her life around yoga, surfing and sobriety. Together, they explore one powerful question: how do we make our way back after losing ourselves to alcohol?Mel explains how alcohol can feel like a shortcut back to playfulness, imagination, and that light, giggly version of us we lost somewhere between school rules, expectations, and being told to “behave”. They talk about how drinking can seem like it's giving you freedom, when it's quietly taking pieces of you away, and why it can be so hard to notice that loss of self when you start young.They also dig into timing, the moment you know it's time to stop, the shift from chaos to clarity, and the surprising truth that sobriety can be less about becoming someone new, and more about returning to who you were before life made you small.There's tequila, hangovers, bins full of glass bottles, silent discos in the jungle, and a full-circle comeback story that proves this, even if you've taken the scenic route, you can always find your way back to you.Enjoy!@melbampton_https://www.thepranaproject.com/blog/whats-in-a-name

Awkward questions. Clumsy confessions. Zero judgement. Today it's all about Darren, Darrens mum and a very dodgy night out! Say no more!Welcome to The Share Shed, the corner of Sober Awkward where we fling open the doors, air out the embarrassing bits, and finally stop carrying the stories that have been rattling around in our heads for years.These are your questions and confessions. The ones you've never said out loud. The nights you still cringe about in the shower. The moments that pop into your brain at 3am and make you want to crawl into the mattress. Traffic cones, family parties, one-night stands, run-ins with the police, bins, balconies, and that one thing everyone remembers even though you desperately wish they wouldn't.Some are funny. Some are painful. Most are both.In The Share Shed, listeners write in anonymously to share their drinking stories, shame spirals, and “why am I still thinking about this?” moments. We read them out, laugh where we can, get honest where it hurts, and gently unpack how shame sticks around long after the booze has gone, and how to finally loosen its grip.This isn't about reliving the chaos.It's about letting it go.Because shame thrives in silence, and nothing deflates it faster than saying, “This happened to me too.” Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or just questioning your relationship with alcohol, this is a place where you don't have to be polished, healed, or have it all figured out.Just human.If you've got a story you're sick of carrying, a question you're scared to ask, or a drunken ghost you'd quite like evicted from your brain, send it in to vic@soberawkward.com..We'll tuck it safely away in the Share Shed where it belongs, instead of letting it haunt you forever.New Share Shed episodes drop Thursdays.Come as you are.Leave a little lighter.

In this episode of Sober Awkward, Vic sits down with Recovery Jimmy from the After Hours podcast to ask a big question, does sobriety actually make you grow up?They swap stories of peak immaturity, from Vic's 25 year blur of zero self preservation, to Jimmy's wine fuelled, one way escape to Majorca after watching Into the Wild. What felt rebellious and “rock and roll” at the time now looks a lot like avoidance, selfishness, and being emotionally frozen at the age they started drinking.Together they unpack how booze can keep you stuck, convincing you that you're wild and fun, when really you're avoiding responsibility, feelings, and growth. They talk drinking culture, hating sober people in bars, and the slow realisation that maybe the “boring” friends were just maturing.It's honest, funny, and reflective, a reminder that growing up does not mean losing your sense of fun. It means finally caring about yourself enough to change.Find out more about Jimmy and his Podcast here - Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmyTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@recovery.jimmy?_r=1&_t=ZN-93qNaF7fVBeAfter Hours with Jimmy Thistle https://afterhours.buzzsprout.comAnd you can find all my other links at:https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

Awkward questions. Clumsy confessions. Zero judgement.Welcome to The Share Shed, the corner of Sober Awkward where we fling open the doors, air out the embarrassing bits, and finally stop carrying the stories that have been rattling around in our heads for years.These are your questions and confessions. The ones you've never said out loud. The nights you still cringe about in the shower. The moments that pop into your brain at 3am and make you want to crawl into the mattress. Traffic cones, family parties, one-night stands, run-ins with the police, bins, balconies, and that one thing everyone remembers even though you desperately wish they wouldn't.Some are funny. Some are painful. Most are both.In The Share Shed, listeners write in anonymously to share their drinking stories, shame spirals, and “why am I still thinking about this?” moments. We read them out, laugh where we can, get honest where it hurts, and gently unpack how shame sticks around long after the booze has gone, and how to finally loosen its grip.This isn't about reliving the chaos.It's about letting it go.Because shame thrives in silence, and nothing deflates it faster than saying, “This happened to me too.” Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or just questioning your relationship with alcohol, this is a place where you don't have to be polished, healed, or have it all figured out.Just human.If you've got a story you're sick of carrying, a question you're scared to ask, or a drunken ghost you'd quite like evicted from your brain, send it in. We'll tuck it safely away in the Share Shed where it belongs, instead of letting it haunt you forever.New Share Shed episodes drop Thursdays.Come as you are.Leave a little lighter.

Giving up alcohol in her twenties felt impossible for VIc.Back then, drinking wasn't just normal, it was the entire social structure. Nights out, friendships, dating, coping with stress, it all seemed to revolve around booze. So when someone decides to step away from it early, without a dramatic rock bottom or life implosion, it raises an interesting question..... Is something changing?In this episode, Vic sits down with Sean, 28 and one year sober, who realised early on that alcohol wasn't actually adding much to his life.What started as very social drinking slowly crept into something else. Sean would finish a night out, grab a bag of cans on the way home, and carry on drinking alone. Before long, it was completely out of control. The pints were adding up. His mates noticed. His parents were worried. His girlfriend eventually gave him an ultimatum.But after facing the truth about where his “normal” drinking was heading, Sean made a change.Now, sober alongside his partner, he represents a growing shift we're seeing in younger generations choosing clarity, mental health and self-trust over hangovers and hazy weekends.Together they talk about what it's really like to quit while your friends are still deep in drinking culture, whether younger people are genuinely drinking less, and what you gain when you stop before alcohol has decades to dig its claws in.This conversation isn't about regret or doing things “perfectly”.It's about curiosity, culture shifts, and the quiet bravery of opting out sooner rather than later.Whether you're questioning your own drinking at 23 or reflecting back at 43, this one might make you think.You can listen to Sean's band and find out more @conflictmanagerband

Awkward questions. Clumsy confessions. Zero judgement.Welcome to The Share Shed, the corner of Sober Awkward where we fling open the doors, air out the embarrassing bits, and finally stop carrying the stories that have been rattling around in our heads for years.These are your questions and confessions. The ones you've never said out loud. The nights you still cringe about in the shower. The moments that pop into your brain at 3am and make you want to crawl into the mattress. Traffic cones, family parties, one-night stands, run-ins with the police, bins, balconies, and that one thing everyone remembers even though you desperately wish they wouldn't.Some are funny. Some are painful. Most are both.In The Share Shed, listeners write in anonymously to share their drinking stories, shame spirals, and “why am I still thinking about this?” moments. We read them out, laugh where we can, get honest where it hurts, and gently unpack how shame sticks around long after the booze has gone, and how to finally loosen its grip.This isn't about reliving the chaos.It's about letting it go.Because shame thrives in silence, and nothing deflates it faster than saying, “This happened to me too.” Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or just questioning your relationship with alcohol, this is a place where you don't have to be polished, healed, or have it all figured out.Just human.If you've got a story you're sick of carrying, a question you're scared to ask, or a drunken ghost you'd quite like evicted from your brain, send it in. We'll tuck it safely away in the Share Shed where it belongs, instead of letting it haunt you forever.New Share Shed episodes drop Thursdays.Come as you are.Leave a little lighter.Share your story to vic@soberawkward.com

Eight years sober… and this week something quietly shifted.Vic realised the anxiety she feels around certain social situations isn't because she can't cope. It's because she no longer wants to.For years she believed being able to sit comfortably around drinking was a sober skill to master. She could handle it. She could manage the energy. She could leave early. But the low-level anxiety never really disappeared.So what happens when you realise it's not about capability, it's about alignment?Joined by Sober Dave from One for the Road, Vic unpacks this sober pivot. Dave brings his usual grounded, thoughtful take as they talk about people-pleasing, the subtle weight of being “the sober one”, and how long-term sobriety sometimes asks you to quietly change the rooms you sit in.After meeting properly at the jungle retreat, something clicked for both of them about the kind of connection they actually want more of. This episode is about that shift, about choosing friendships and environments that feel nourishing rather than draining, and about allowing sobriety to keep evolving.Because maybe it isn't about whether you can sit in certain spaces anymore.Maybe it's about whether you still want to?Find out more about Dave by following him @soberdave and if you need some support in your sobriety then check out his website - https://www.soberdave.co.uk/

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic is showing up having one of those weeks. You know the kind. Life is busy, emotions are bubbling, and she's caught herself saying “Yeah, I'm fine” on autopilot, while secretly wanting to hide under a duvet and avoid everyone. Which, honestly, feels like the perfect moment to talk about… feelings.Today, Vic unpacks why sobriety can suddenly turn the emotional volume right up. Years of numbing everything with alcohol means that when you stop drinking, you don't just get clarity, you get everything. Old feelings, new feelings, confusing feelings, all turning up at once with no warning and absolutely no chill.She's joined by her mate Kate, who Vic met on a Sober Awkward retreat, and together they talk honestly about what it's like when the emotional floodgates open. They chat about learning how to sit with difficult headspaces without leaning on a drink, how bottled-up emotions can spill out sideways, and why avoidance often ends in drama, arguments… and sometimes even a bit of fisty cuffs in a tent on the Isle of Wight. Yes, really. You'll want to hear that story.This episode is for anyone who's sober and wondering why they suddenly feel so much, anyone who's navigating emotions without their old coping mechanisms, and anyone who needs reminding that feeling everything doesn't mean you're failing, it means you're healing.Pop the kettle on... It's time to get uncomfortable.Follow Kate at @detoxikated on Insta

Welcome to the Share Shed — a judgement-free corner of Sober Awkward where we gently drag our most awkward drinking stories into the daylight and finally let them go.This is the place for the questions you've never asked out loud and the moments you still remember at 3am when your brain decides to replay your greatest hits of humiliation. Family parties that went wildly off-piste. Traffic cones worn as hats. One night stands you wish had stayed one night. Messages sent. Bins vomited in. Questionable run-ins with the police. You know the ones.Each week, listeners send in their awkward questions and clumsy confessions, anonymously if they like, and Vic reads them out, unpacks the shame, adds some perspective, and helps you understand why these memories stick around — and how to stop them haunting you. This isn't about glorifying drinking or wallowing in regret. It's about understanding shame, normalising messy human behaviour, and reminding you that you are not broken, bad, or alone — you were just drinking in a culture that told you this was normal.If you've ever wondered how to move past embarrassment, why certain memories still sting even years later, or whether anyone else has done something that bad (spoiler: yes), The Share Shed is for you.Send your awkward questions and clumsy confessions to vic@soberawkward.com, and let's tuck those drunken ghosts safely away — where they belong.Kettle on. Share shed open. Let's get a little bit awkward.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should you ask your partner to quit drinking just because you have? Or could that actually make things worse?In this episode of Sober Awkward, Vic explores why telling the people you love to give up booze can backfire, and why quietly showing them what sobriety looks like is often far more powerful. From awkward dinner tables to partners who still drink, Vic talks honestly about support, resentment, boundaries, and why influence beats control every time.Inspired by a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills binge on a long-haul flight (purely for research), Vic unpacks how normalised alcohol is, how invisible the sober struggle can feel, and why “I don't have a problem” is often more complicated than it sounds.Vic is also joined by her husband John, who shares why he eventually chose to quit drinking himself, not because he was asked to, but because he watched sobriety change the person he loved. Together they talk about support, safety, curiosity, and how relationships can evolve when alcohol is taken out of the equation.This episode is for anyone navigating sobriety alongside partners, friends, or family who still drink, and for anyone learning how to protect their peace without nagging, lecturing, or explaining themselves to death.Pop the kettle on.Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is show them, not tell them.

After 3 and a half magical and hilarious years, the time has finally come for Hame to step away from the podcast. In this incredibly blubbery, soppy, sad and reflective episode Vic and Hame look back at what they have learnt from their time together.They explore what they have learnt from the podcast and what they hope the listeners can learn too. Hame reveals his reasons for having made this decision (and not its not that him and Vic have had an argument or that he had a mad 20 pint blow-out and doesn't want to lie to you all!). Most importantly, they plan out what will happen to the podcast post-Hame and don't worry - the show must go on!

What happens when midlife hits… and you're already sober?In this brilliantly honest and often hilarious episode, Vic is flying solo (Hamish wisely sat this one out) to chat with author Dana Bowman, a woman who thought she had long-term sobriety nailed, until menopause, food, marriage, parenting, body image, and a global pandemic all piled in at once.Dana's story, told in her book Humble Pie, is about far more than sobriety. It's about what happens when recovery collides with midlife. As menopause crept in, Dana found herself veering into binge eating and food addiction, struggling with comparison, scrolling, isolation, and frantic over-exercising. Just when she thought she'd dealt with the big stuff, life threw everything else at her… and eventually forced a reckoning.Vic hasn't read Humble Pie yet, but after hearing Dana talk about relapse, HRT, sugar cravings, dopamine dips, invisible women, and upgrading her sobriety toolkit, she knows it's going to be a wildly relatable ride. Expect real talk about perfectionism, changing bodies, and why custard creams sometimes end up doing the emotional heavy lifting.Whether you're pre, peri or post-menopause, or just quietly wondering why life feels harder than it used to, this one's for anyone who's ever felt like they were falling apart… and learning to laugh their way through it anyway.

Ever noticed how the moment you put down the wine glass, you suddenly find yourself at the bottom of a family-sized bag of Haribo? You aren't alone. In fact, for many of us, the "sugar monster" was waiting in the wings long before we poured our last drink.In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa Kredler, a Sydney-based psychotherapist and specialist in ultra-processed food addiction. Vanessa brings a lived experience in recovering from both food and alcohol addiction.We dive deep into why these two habits are so often "best friends" and how to navigate the "naughty food" phase of early sobriety without losing your mind.We explore:The Binge Trigger: Why Vanessa had to give up alcohol to finally heal her relationship with food.The AA Sugar Phenomenon: Why are there always so many sweets at recovery meetings? We look at the biological link between the bottle and the biscuit tin.The Great Food Addiction Challenge: You can choose to never touch alcohol again, but you have to eat. How do you manage an addiction to something you need for survival?How Worried Should You Be?: Should you be concerned about your skyrocketing sugar intake in early sobriety, or is it okay to "treat yourself" while you find your feet?Whether you're "sober curious" or a few years in and wondering why you're suddenly obsessed with ice cream, Vanessa offers incredible insight into how to find balance and understand the "why" behind your cravings.

Warning: This episode contains an alarming amount of chat about a mysterious stranger called Derek and more casual mentions of “minge” in the first four minutes than any of us could ever have anticipated. It is funny, honest, slightly feral… and absolutely not one for the school run. Best enjoyed with headphones on and children safely out of earshot.So, you've just started your sober journey? Doing Dry January? Or quietly wondering what life might look like without booze? This episode is your brutally honest, slightly emotional roadmap through your first 30 days alcohol-free.Vic and Hamish take you through sobriety week by week, honestly unpacking what really happens to your body, brain, sleep, mood, social life, trousers, and overall sanity as alcohol slowly leaves the stage. Alongside plenty of science, swearing, and questionable oversharing, there are also genuinely tender moments where you might realise… you are actually doing this. Today we explore those early sugar cravings and wobbles, the sudden bursts of confidence that can catch you out, the strange emotional storms that roll in around Week Two, the clearer thinking and calmer days that begin to appear in Week Three, and that brilliant Week Four moment when you look at yourself and think, “Hang on… this might actually work.If you are five days in, swaying at day twelve, feeling uncertain at day twenty, or simply curious about how sobriety unfolds in real life, this episode gives you reassurance, humour, relatable stories, and genuinely helpful tools to get through it.You are not broken, you are healing. And honestly, you are doing something extraordinary.Press play, take a breath… and welcome to the awkward, hopeful, quietly life-changing first month of sober life.

New Year, New Liver, Who Dis?Feeling a bit "delicate" this morning? Maybe you've just woken up with a UDI (Unidentified Drinking Injury), a loaf of bread for a pillow, or you're currently hiding under the duvet until the 3rd of January. In our first episode of 2026, Hame and Vic are whispering a warm welcome to the "sober curious," the "done-with-hangovers," and everyone in between. We're stripping away the "alcoholic" labels and proving that you don't need to hit rock bottom to decide that life is just... better without the booze.In this episode:The "Obscenity" Checklist: From pub-crawl sips to kitchen-floor naps—we've been there.Meet the Ex-Binge Drinkers: We share our own journeys from "walking disasters" to years of clarity.The Sobriety Toolkit: Practical tips on gamifying your goals, finding your "Cuppa" community, and why your new best friend might be a pair of running shoes.The Superpower Effect: Why sobriety isn't about being "boring"—it's about getting your time, money, and confidence back.You don't have to commit to "forever" today—just give this episode a listen. What have you got to lose (besides the hangovers)?

In this gloriously unhinged episode, Vic and Hamish find themselves in that awkward festive no-man's-land between Christmas and New Year – gravy-stained, confused about the day, and dangerously close to eating a whole tin of Quality Street in one sitting.But fear not. Among the leftover potatoes and peri-menopausal meltdowns, your sober elves are here with a very handy toolkit to help you navigate New Year's Eve without diving headfirst into a bucket of prosecco.Yep, we're diving deep into why your mindset matters more than the perfect mocktail, how to handle your Aunt Karen when she calls you a party pooper, and what to do when the countdown begins and you suddenly feel the urge to shove someone for no reason at all. Plus, we make a strong case for why being tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle and a forensic crime doco by 9.07pm might actually be the ultimate New Year flex.We also discuss frogs. Yes, frogs. There's a weird moment where Vic tries to convince us all that carrying a tiny frog in your pocket on NYE can help you stay sober – and somehow, it makes sense. (Just go with it.)You'll also hear about our own cringey NYEs from the boozy past – from driveway spews to mysterious cardigans and rashy regrets – and how we've now completely redefined this weird night of the year into something we actually enjoy.So whether this is your first sober New Year or your fifteenth, come hang out with us and feel smug, steady, and slightly feral in the best way possible.This one's all about preparing your brain, not just your beverage list.Let's make it awkward, weird, frog-friendly… and totally unforgettable.

If the idea of a sober Christmas makes you break out in a festive sweat, clutch a mince pie for emotional support, and whisper “Lord, give me strength,” then this episode is your new best friend.This week, Mrs Santa (Vic, with her saggy boob and questionable stuffing) and her long suffering festive sidekick Elf Hamish dive headfirst into the sparkly chaos of Christmas. First the fantasy version where everyone drinks kombucha and expresses gratitude, then the real version where Uncle Gary is drunk by 10am and someone cries because their new crocs are the wrong colour.Together they explore the myth of the perfect sober Christmas, the messy reality most of us face, and why the festive drinking culture feels overwhelming and very annoying when your'e sober. Today these two idiots offer up a simple sober toolkit to help you get through the day, and reflect on what Christmas really feels like without booze numbing the edges.This is your festive mix of honesty, humour, science, awkwardness and hope. Everything you need to get through the holiday season without falling face first into the gravy boat. So grab a fizzy water, hide in the loo if you need to, and join us for the Christmas episode that helps you sleigh the holiday season with your dignity intact.Merry Christmas sober legends. Feel the awkward and do it anyway!

In today's episode, Hame sits down with the wonderful Clare Pooley. The globally celebrated author who's blog and subsequent book 'The Sober Diaries' has been been named as THE book that helped so many of our listeners get sober so it felt only right to invite her on!This fascinating conversation ranges from how she labelled and overcame her 'wine witch' (and the surprising role that Game of Thrones played in it!), the 'Best Mum Cup' moment that would mark her final alcoholic drink, why she has never identified with the term 'alcoholic', how her sobriety prepared her for the challenges of being diagnosed with breast cancer and the rules she encourages on any teenager asking about how to drink alcohol.As well as being a fountain of knowledge, Clare was exactly as kind, funny and relatable as you might expect. We hope that this episode can inspire one more person to reconsider their relationship with alcohol to add to the long list!