How I quit alcohol

In this episode I catch up with movement specialist and somatic therapist Sarah Mackay-Wiggers. In this episode we talk about Why we rejecting our highest values. The impact of holding on and being able to let go. Become aware of unconscious clutching The importance of trying new things. Working on the relationship with your body. Learning to trust your body. To reach out to Sarah go to @i_am_sara...

In today's episode, I catch up with Emily Walter. Emily is a drum teacher from Melbourne who had just recently gone over 500 days alcohol free, which is her first time in over 20 years with no intention of stopping. From the age of 16, she started drinking regularly on most weekends up until the age of 40. She used alcohol as a way of fitting in and feeling comfortable in her own skin. Fast forwar...

In 2022 Katherine Dunell lost her husband Brett after a long battle with melanoma. In this beautiful chat we talk about -Dealing with the reality that her husband was leaving, -Dealing with her grief and how staying off alcohol helped her process the grief and to be there for her kids as they navigate this huge change. -Having an alcohol free funeral and how that created a boundary for her and the...

As a busy Mum and business owner Ellissia would not have considered herself as a heavy drinker having a few drinks to deal with the stress of daily life. Growing up with an alcohol father she never considered her style of drinking to be problematic but not meeting her own standards and using alcohol as a coping mechanism she decided to give it a break for a while. After a few different attempts El...

In this episode, I have a conversation with senior yoga teacher Mark Purser, delving into the significance of self-care. In the midst of our bustling lives, demanding work routines, and the responsibilities of caring for others, many of us find ourselves depleted, grappling with disordered nervous systems, and seeking external sources for relief. Mark and I discuss different methods to rejuvenate...

Lach Bostock, a Grammy-nominated producer and a key member of the hit Indie Pop Band; Mansionair, chose sobriety at the peak of his career. At 31, Lachy recognised that heavy drinking wasn't compatible with the demands of constant touring, both mentally and physically. Additionally, he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and believes that abstaining from alcohol helps manage his symptoms better. La...

In this episode I catch up with musician, actor, author and mens mental health ambassador. During our chat, we explore the themes covered in his book, "Putting On A Show," which delves into subjects like manhood, the importance of friendship, and the intricacies of mental health and exploring what it to be an "Aussie Bloke" these days. We also chat about Rob's moderation and times of sobriety, and...

In this episode I catch up with entrepreneur Goose McGrath for one of the most inspiring chats I have had on the podcast. Once a homeless individual caught in a cycle of alcohol and drug abuse, Goose has remarkably transformed his life to become a multi-million dollar property investor and successful business owner. I love a rags to riches story, who doesn't? But this story was next level. We chat...

In this episode I catch up with some of the HIQA grads to talk about how their sobriety has affected or changed their relationship with their partners. For some it has had a very positive effect, and for others it has caused them to bust up. You changing your lifestyle is always going to have an impact on those closest to you, for some it will create more growth for the partner and for some it wil...

In this podcast episode, I catch up with my good friend Saritah, who's not only an amazing musician and singer but also a vocal therapist. We dive into a topic that hits close to home – our tendency to be super critical of our own voices, even though they're truly beautiful. We explore how simply connecting with our voices can do wonders for our overall healing journey. We also tackle the whole id...

Spirituality does not have to be a complicated unobtainable thing. In this episode I catch up with senior yoga teacher Shane Turner to talk about how a spiritual practice can look very different for different people, but also how we can use different practices to support us through hard times and through sobriety. Shane also takes us through a simple breath-work practice, which I recommend you do...

In this episode, I chat with Celeste Yvonne, a certified recovery coach and author known for her impactful essays on parenting, mommy wine culture, and sobriety. With over two decades of communication experience, Celeste's work has been featured in renowned publications such as the Washington Post and Good Morning America. As a founding host of the Sober Mom Squad, she advocates for moms facing ad...

In this episode I catch up yet again with my good friend Lyndal Hunt to chat about the 3 stages of relapse. Emotional relapse (disconnection from our community, disconnection from daily practices, shitty thinking). Mental relapse ( starting to bargain with ourselves about moderation). Physical relapse. (The picking up of the drink). These stages are great to become aware of these warning signs so...

In this episode I catch up radio host, Maz Compton. Maz, 8 years sober, has just released a book Last Drinks, she also hosts the podcast Last Drinks and is an awesome advocate for sobriety. While alcohol wasn't having a huge impact on Maz's professional life it was taking it's toll on her energy and she started to question her relationship without alcohol. Once she started to question her relation...

In this midweek episode of the pod, I catch up with Ben Schiller we break down the DSM 5 Criteria for assessing alcohol use disorder and compare it to our relationships with alcohol. A great reminder of how far we have come but also a great diagnostic for anyone wondering if it could be time to take a break. To reach out to Ben go to ben@benschillerpsychology.com.au DSM-5 Criteria for AUD 21 To co...

In this episode I catch up HIQA Grad, Michelle McDonald. Shell and I talk about life for her at the 2 year mark, and that next step from doing sobriety to being sobriety. Michelle went from being a daily drinker, to loving and thriving without booze to now coaching and helping others change their lives without alcohol. To reach out to Shell you can reach her on instagram at @thesoberconnection or...

In this episode I catch up with 29 year old mother of 3, Kacee Toogood. Growing up with family violence and addictions, Kacee has had to deal with trauma from an early age. She used alcohol as a way to deal with the pain from her past and then later on the death of her brother. With support from her husband Joel and lots of therapy Kacee is two years sober and learning new tools to cope with emoti...

In this mid week minisode I catch up with my good friend Lyndal Hunt. Lyndal introduces the concept of the "safety trap", and becoming aware of feeling so good that we start to neglect the ongoing work required to maintain sobriety. She emphasises the importance of vigilance and proactivity, even during the good times, as this is when the risk of relapse can be at its highest. Recovery is an ongoi...

In this episode I catch up with comedian Mandy Nolan to talk about her 12 month of sobriety, we chat about how she is getting the most out of life, as a self professed black out sleeper, selling out shows, running for greens candidate and just smashing it generally. Check out all of Mandy's offerings https://authenticyoumasterclasses.com/book-here Authentic You Masterclass. https://www.starcourtth...

As creator of JJJ"s like a version, Lissie Tuner aka (Mel in the morning) has lived a big trashbaggy life, the partying with celebrities and enjoying the fruits of her own success. With the recent countdown of Like A Version, Lissie has been thrown back into the public spotlight for part in creating such an iconic institution in Australian music industry. Over 10 years sober and 10 years away from...

In this episode I catch up with Kate from New Zealand. Kate was brought up in a strict Christian household, her Dad was the local pastor of their church and as such was a late bloomer with alcohol. Kate found that when she drank at first, she liked the person she became when she was drunk, it made her more outgoing, more confident until it didn't. After weighing up the pros and cons Kate realised...

In this episode I catch up with one of the HIQA grads Naomi from NSW, Naomi suffered huge blackouts and would go to huge lengths to try to jog her memory from the night before. We chat about the dreaded drunk dialling episodes. After her separation and other events, Naomi's inner critic was so strong that the thought of time on her own would cause her to drink excessively. We also chat about navig...

Back to the podcast, Ash Grunwald (my lovely hubby) and I give a recap on our trip around Australia and navigating campsites, campfires and new people on our trip around Australia without alcohol. We also chat about the next steps in sobriety, what to do when you start to get a little complacent and turning you struggles into a challenge. The book I mentioned is The Dreaming Path by Paul Callaghan...

In this episode I chat with Greg from the Sunny Coast in Australia. Greg was an almost every day drinker, the life of the party and probably the drunkest guy at the party. We talked about his relationship with alcohol and how at 54 years of age he decided it was time to change. That change has had a huge impact on physical health, his relationship with his wife, his daughter and eve...

Jade practices and instructs yoga, is an author, passionate about mindfulness, sustained mental health, and employee well-being. She was a self-confessed “piss-head” (Australian slang for heavy partier) and was convinced that she could be an “alcoholic yogi” for many years until she began her ethanol-free journey 4 years ago and developed the foundations that enabled her to start stringing togethe...