Listen UP By Abbeycare

In Listen UP Episode 17, senior addiction worker at Glasgow ADRS, and Humanizing Healthcare co-lead, Allan Houston shares his recovery journey and what two decades on the frontline of Scotland's drug crisis actually looks like.  Allan lays bare the uncomfortable truth about addiction services that nobody says out loud, and maps the exact route from chaos to 33 years clean — starting with one...

In Episode 16, CEO of the Scottish Recovery Consortium and 30-year sector veteran Tracey McFall shares what Scotland's drug and alcohol crisis actually looks like from the inside, highlighting why treatment alone isn't enough to keep people in recovery, and why the thousands of unpaid volunteers across Scotland are quietly saving lives every day: -The five-part CHIME framework that shift...

In Listen UP Episode 15, creative lead Kate Black of In Cahootz and participant Paul Byrne share a clear path from anxiety to action, highlighting simple entry points with no referral, and steady peer support that keeps you showing up: - Structure your week with consistent creative activities to replace isolation with accountability - Rediscover talents addiction buried to rebuild confidence and p...

In Listen UP Episode 14, Scottish Drugs Forum CEO Kirsten Horsburgh shares frontline, human-first insights - highlighting how showing people their lives matter can shift everything, and why meeting people without judgement becomes the starting point for real change. Kirsten reveals how a simple 15-minute naloxone conversation led to a life being saved within days - transforming harm reduction from...

In Listen UP Episode 13, recovery advocate May Riddell shares a straight‑talk roadmap for early abstinence, highlighting the daily structure that cuts through fear, and honest group work that turns shame into relief: - Phone the helpline, take the first meeting offered, and sit down front - Stack one meeting nightly for 90 nights, to keep momentum when motivation dips - Sit near people who look we...

In Episode 12 of Listen UP, Harbour Service Manager Eddie Gorman reveals how practical strategies on the ground turn addiction recovery into real, measurable change: -The most effective way to tackle cravings when motivation fades -Why “going it alone” always holds you back — and the fix -What every family member needs to know before trying to help -How a single group meeting flips shame into imme...

In Listen UP Episode 11, former professional footballer Andy McLaren shares how a public setback became the turning point, highlighting how to turn shame into momentum, and how to rebuild fast when everyone is watching: - From the pitch to the personal battle: Former Scottish footballer Andy McLaren openly shares his struggles with addiction. - Andy's sobriety journey: Credits his transformat...

In Listen UP Ep 10, former professional footballer and ex-PFA chairman Clarke Carlisle shares boundary rules that protect sobriety, highlighting how to stop digital pile‑ons at the door, and how one daily script steadies mood swings: - Keep one sentence ready for invites: “Not tonight, early start” — no debate, no guilt - Phone in another room after 9pm: alarm on a cheap clock; messages wait till...

In Listen UP Episode 9, Gayle Brannigan of The St Mirren Charitable Foundation shares the simple anchors that keep recovery on track, highlighting a morning reset that steadies emotions, and the power of hearing lived experience weekly. Gayle unveils a stadium‑based hub plus weekly speakers that transforms isolation into steady, face‑to‑face support: --Use a 60‑second “just for today” check to sto...

In Listen UP Episode 8, bestselling 12‑step author and Somerton Lodge founder John Elford shares the exact turning points that moved him from homelessness and hospital detoxes to 22 years sober, highlighting the two‑word decision that stopped his next drink, and a step‑by‑step way to face everyday triggers without panic. John Elford unveils no-nonsense, practical strategies that transforms urge sp...

In Listen UP Episode 7, Alcohol Focus Scotland’s Marc Buchanan shares a simple, stackable approach to reducing alcohol harm in Scotland, highlighting how pricing, outlet density, and marketing limits work together, and why personal routines still matter. Marc unveils a combined‑measures insight that transforms fragile early days into a steadier, lower‑risk rhythm: --Pair policies with habits: plan...

​In Listen UP Episode 6, Marie McGuire, a seasoned therapist, dives into the universal truths of addiction, highlighting the critical role of trauma-informed therapy and community-based support in recovery, all while sharing a message of hope. Marie unveils how understanding addiction's indiscriminate nature transforms feelings of isolation into empowerment: - Why addiction doesn’t discrimina...

In Listen UP Episode 5, discover recovery strategies that saved broadcaster and presenter Iain Lee's life, and how he understood lasting sobriety is possible, even after devastating relapses and career destruction. Iain unveils four crucial strategies that shift the focus from despair to hope: --The role of honest conversations in healing --How to break the cycle of shame and fear --Unlocking...

Start Small, Aim Big — Recovery Is Possible | Listen UP Episode 4 - Paul Donnelly In Listen UP Episode 4, Paul Donnelly, founder of The Max Kolbe Recovery Movement, shares practical steps to navigate recovery, highlighting the power of small, consistent changes and the courage to seek connection. Paul unveils how embracing vulnerability can turn fear into strength, making recovery not just possibl...

In Listen UP Episode 3, The Recovery Collective, the minds behind Scotland’s first alcohol-free music festival, dive into how they create safe, stigma-free events, highlighting the role of music in recovery and the value of community support.  Shaun Kenny and Derek Watt of The Recovery Collective unveil how creating alcohol-free music events transforms isolation into connection and stigma into emp...

In Listen UP Episode 2, Darren McGarvey unpacks how trauma - and overcoming it - influences addiction recovery. Darren opens up: - Recovery isn't a straight line...we need to confront uncomfortable truths - Public sharing of trauma is both healing AND risky - Genuine healing .v. using trauma as a commodity - Both supportive and challenging relationships are required in recovery - One specific...

Join us for the inspiring inaugural episode of the Listen Up recovery podcast hosted by Eddie Clarke, and featuring our first guest, comedian Darren Connell. In this episode, Darren shares his experiences with addiction, recovery, and comedy. He emphasises the importance of seeking help, accepting self, and the supportive role of therapy, and community. He opens up about how recovery has influence...