In this mini solocast, I'm diving into the stress and its ties to addiction and relapse. I chat about the importance of pinpointing life stressors and figure out how to cut them down or remove them. Explore the impact of alcohol and stress on your brain. Working on changing your approach to stress; it's a game-changer for recovery. Discover practical tools: journaling, rewriting your mental script, and creating space through awareness. Consistent good practices. They're the key to keeping...

Asking ourselves what am I really craving can be a game changer. In this solocast I look into the deeper questions around our craving and what might really be happening for us when we are craving. I talk about how my cravings were actually a longing for love and acceptance. When we look at these questions and get some understanding around them we can get to know ourselves a lot better. I talk about emotional cravings versus physical cravings and I offer some journal prompts that might...

In this episode, I catch up musician and producer Garrett Kato. Hailing from Vancouver, Garrett shares his journey of navigating through various social circles during his upbringing, and the challenges he faced in finding his place. Garrett talks about the impact of his parents' separation during his formative years, revealing the deep-seated emotions of not feeling good enough and the ensuing sense of instability. We chat about the myth of needing to use substances to create music and how...

How do you find comfort when your nervous system is in distress? Explore the drawbacks of numbing or distraction in this solo minicast. Discover cues signaling the need for self-soothing exercises and understand that cravings often indicate an underlying issue. When beyond our window of tolerance, the instinct to seek rapid comfort arises naturally. Tune in as I discuss the self-soothing techniques I employ for swift regulation and comfort in this episode rather than reaching for externals...

In this episode I catch up with Australian Idol winner Kate DeAraugo about her podcast Why Do I Feel This Way and her incredible journey into 6 years sobriety. We talk about how Kate keeps herself sober and the importance of protecting her sobriety. How fear can keep you stuck and how honesty can keep us sober. How losing her Mum through a tragic accident was the toughest thing she has been through in her sobriety. Kate went to rehab for drug and alcohol addiction and is in the 12 step...

In this solo minisode for the New Year, I am celebrating 6 years of sobriety, and creating the life that you want. How do we create the life we want? I share in this episode some of the journaling prompts I use personally that help give me direction. Some of these I use on a daily basis. I hope this episode is helpful for anyone needing some direction. This episode was brought to you by Monday Distillery. To check them out go to  www.mondaydistillery.com  For more resources such as...

In this episode I catch up with Lyndal Hunt. We talk about all the massive emotions that can show up time of year and how we can deal with them. We answer some questions that were sent through for us to work through. We talk about journaling practices what can help support us through challenging times. Checking in with your body. Dealing with triggering emotions like rejection, loneliness, grief, change in family dynamics, maintaining boundaries and the sheer amount of alcohol everywhere we...

In this episode Ash and I chat about recruiting your inner coach or inner caring committee to help through tough times. How journaling with your inner coach or caring committee can give you some space from your thoughts. We talk about how we all have so much innate wisdom within us it's just a matter of getting some distance from your thoughts to access that wisdom. We have so much information these days, the hard bit accessing what we have learned and putting it into practice. We also...

In this episode, I catch up with renowned big wave surfer Jamie Mitchell. He shares his journey from nearly hitting rock bottom to absolutely charging in life! We delve into the parallels between navigating towering waves and managing intense emotions. Jamie chats about the transformative effect of sauna sessions, ice baths, Wim Hof breathing techniques, and exercise, all contribute to creating a good life. He reflects on the transformative power of surrounding oneself with positive...

In this episode I catch up with sober coach, author and mentor Sarah Rusbatch. We talk about how insecurities from her early childhood fed into a need to be accepted and liked and how alcohol fulled that desire to be accepted and loved. From an early age Sarah had no off switch with alcohol and would have big binge drinking sessions and lots of partying. Fast forward to pregnancies and motherhood with a fairly controlled relationship with alcohol until the family moved to Australia....

In this episode, I catch up with Irish Actor and TV presenter Àine O'Neill. Our discussion delves into the profound impact of alcohol on her family, recounting the heart-wrenching losses of her teenage sister in a tragic accident and, decades later, her brother to addiction. Aine's journey towards healing has been an arduous one, emphasising the crucial importance of self-love. We explore the notion that genuine self-acceptance extends beyond embracing our positive qualities, encompassing the...

In this episode, I had the privilege of chatting with Derrick McKenzie, DJ and drummer from the iconic band Jamiroquai. Derrick opened up about the profound impact of racism during his formative years and how alcohol became a source of confidence and belonging during his adolescence. We delved into the evolution of his alcohol consumption, which gradually turned into a post-show ritual to sustain the adrenaline rush of performing. Derrick also shared how he used alcohol as a coping...

In this episode I catch up with legendary Australian musician Dan Sultan. Dan and I have a really candid discussion about his life with alcohol and his recovery. Being an extremely shy person, Dan used alcohol to help him block out the discomfort of his shyness, low self esteem and a strong inner critic. After a drunken episode at a show, the press in Australia ran with it and shamed Dan all over the headlines for days on end. He eventually decided to go to rehad and get help. Dan talks...

In this episode Jules Galloway, naturopath and fatigue whisperer is back in the zoom room to talk all about liver support and sleep in early sobriety. Jules is such a wealth of knowledge, we do a deep dive into the neurotransmitter GABA and it's role in sleep, and mental health and how alcohol messes with GABA levels. We also chat about how you can support your liver during early sobriety and beyond. We also delve more into gut health, bowel health and all the things. To reach out to Jules...

In this episode we delve into the remarkable life of musician Steve Balbi, founding member of Noiseworks and Electric Hippies. Like his music career Steve's exposure to drugs and alcohol started early from the age of 16 he was thrown into the arms of the rock n roll lifestyle and here begun and Steve's personal battle with addiction fulled by his feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. Through the conversation we discover the pivotal moment that led Steve to seek salvation and overcome his...

Today on the podcast Mark Purser and I go deep into the importance of the relationships in our lives and how we are influenced by those closest to us, so choose them wisely. To reach out to Mark go to https://www.bambooyogabyron.com To check out our retreats coming up go to www.iquitalcohol.com.au/resources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I was so blown away to have this incredible soul on the podcast, Jack Nagle from the Real Drug Talk podcast. Playing basketball at a high level being coached by Andrew Gaze, Jack went from being fit and healthy young man dabbling in drugs until alcohol and drug addiction took over and completely derailed Jack’s life. After becoming homeless, suicide attempts, psychosis, living a life of crime and hitting complete rock bottom Jack got into rehab and did the word to free himself. He...

This episode myself and the How I Quit Alcohol Grads group were lucky enough to have a workshop with Psychotherapist Jeannie O'Carroll. We chat about CPTSD Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and emotional flashback which often accompany CPTSD. The difference between PTSD and CPTSD Often times a lot of people think they need to have had a big T trauma to have CPTSD, but often complex trauma is not an event that happened but rather a continually CPTSD when a child grows up in an...

In this episode I catch up with Wakka Wakka man Burung Shillingsworth. Burung is 22 years old and has been on the sobriety journey for some time now. He is on a mission to help not only indigenous kids but everyone to get rid of the booze. Burung talks about Being open to try new things. How alcohol disconnects us from the connection to spirit and country. Protecting your energy and letting go of toxic friendships. How from the first drink alcohol caused chaos in his life. Why his...

In this episode I catch up with Scottish Australian, Vari McKechnie. Vari is a certified coach, author an buisessnes mentor, who grew up in Glasgow and now resides on the Mornington Peninsula in Australia. Vari and I talk about living up to "cultural expectation" of drinking. We talk about how from binge drinking we can easily slip into daily drinking. Taking the brave step into an alcohol free life, Vari has changed her life and lives her life to her fullest potential. She has a new...

In this episode I catch up with breathwork, meditation and yoga teacher, Sam Brown. Sam recently lost her beautiful Mum to lung cancer which has been a big journey for Sam of letting go. Sam and I chat about the important of acceptance and surrender and how that practice helped her on her journey of losing her Mum. We chat about -The difference between pain and suffering. How acceptance brings a peace to our lives. The impermanence of painful emotions When your spiritual practice gets...

In this epic episode I chat with New Orleans bar tender Adam Tustin. Adam reached out to me to share his incredible story of going from a heavy daily drinker working in the hospitality industry to literally going sober on the job. Adam was literally detoxing while pouring people's drinks and by some miracle managed to stop himself from reaching for alcohol to calm his withdrawal symptoms. This episode shows the incredible strength that we can all tap into if we want it badly enough. If...

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_sarahadele www.sarahadele.com.au Sacred UNION INTERACTIVE COURSE &...

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 forward to her mid 20's, she began drinking on her own, thinking that alcohol was giving her a sense of...

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 kids. Kat had a strong practice of "musts" which included remembering to have gratitude,...