In Their Words: COA Lives with Jonathan Ashworth

In this episode of COA Lives, Jonathan Ashworth sits down with resilience coach, author and Nacoa ambassador Josh Connolly for an honest conversation about growing up around addiction, recovery, and what it really means to break the cycle. Josh shares how getting sober at 24 led him to re-examine his childhood and recognise the impact of growing up with an alcoholic parent. What followed was a jou...

Ian Stringer’s voice is familiar to football fans across the country — a commentator who has lived the highs and lows of the beautiful game. But behind the microphone is a story shaped by loss, trauma, and the lasting impact of growing up with a parent struggling with alcoholism. In this deeply personal and courageous conversation, Ian shares the devastating story of losing his mother, Christine,...

Marking Children of Alcoholics Week 2026, we’re releasing a powerful and deeply personal episode of COA Lives featuring journalist, broadcaster and Nacoa patron Camilla Tominey. In this candid conversation, Camilla joins Jonathan Ashworth to reflect on growing up with an alcoholic parent, the hidden realities behind a seemingly picture-perfect childhood, and the lasting impact of parental addictio...

COA Lives returns with a deeply honest conversation about what it means to grow up in a family affected by alcohol problems — and the long-term impact that can have on identity, relationships, and wellbeing. In this episode, Jonathan Ashworth is joined by Loti Nambombe and Amy Dickson, who share their experiences of being part of the Children of Alcoholics (COA) community. Together, they explore t...

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of COA Lives, host Jonathan Ashworth sits down with Lucy Norfolk and her 13-year-old daughter Amelie Peek—two extraordinary voices bravely speaking out about the realities facing children of alcoholics. Together, they share the story of Daniel, Amelie’s father and Lucy’s long-term partner, whose lifelong struggle with alcoholism ended tragically in 2022....

Welcome to the first episode of “COA Lives”, a new podcast hosted by Jonathan Ashworth, former Labour MP and long-time advocate for children of alcoholics. In this moving conversation, Jonathan speaks with Sarah Drage — a Nacoa ambassador, podcaster, and mental-health advocate whose life changed forever after losing her father, Steve, to alcohol addiction. Sarah opens up about the emotional comple...

Former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth sits down with Calum Best — TV personality, entrepreneur, and son of football legend George Best — for an open and emotional conversation about family, addiction, and hope. Calum shares powerful stories of growing up with his famous father, how he learned to channel pain into purpose, and why he’s dedicated to supporting the National Association for Children of A...

I’m Jonathan Ashworth,  As a politician, in parliament I championed the cause of COAs, the children of alcoholics. It opened up a word of voices to me I’d never heard before.  Now it’s my mission to share real stories from people from all walks of life affected by parental addiction.  I know how healing it can be to find a common thread of fellow feeling. I know how painful it be to feel alone.  A...