Shows
The Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastWhy can't I be a normal drinker?Ever wondered why the notion of being a "normal drinker" weighs heavily on so many of us? Join me, Meg, as I share my personal journey through the maze of societal expectations and personal realisations around alcohol consumption. From questioning my own drinking habits to the pivotal moment of embracing a sober lifestyle, this episode unpacks the unrealistic aspirations many harbour about drinking without consequences. Through heartfelt introspection, I reveal how alcohol impacted my personal relationships and overall well-being, leading to the liberating decision to pursue a life filled with genuine joy and purpose—free from alcohol.Th...2025-05-0315 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastSober Legend, Jen Hirst, Shares How She Rebuilt Her Life from the Ground UpToday we talk to Jen Hirst! Jen is an open book when it comes to her experience with alcohol addiction. She says it like it is and discusses how she recovered with transparency. This is what drew me to Jen. Her honesty about how dark it got has been such an inspiration for many who can relate and say 'yep me too!". Jen now dedicates her time to helping others do the same. She is awesome! This is what attracts her almost 70,000 instagram followers. Jen's vibrant Instagram presence exemplifies how one individual's journey can resonate and aid countless others...2025-04-2644 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastWhy Moderating Alcohol is so Incredibly Hard to Achieve!In this episode, Meg & Bella address the pros and pitfalls of moderating alcohol. Everybody who drinks or has drunk has practiced it but not many succeed at it! We talk about alcohol moderation in the context of Dry July, this being the second day of it, when thousands of Australians dip their toe into the alcohol-free water and try their hand at giving up the booze for a full 31 days. Why this topic? Well, firstly, because most people who sign up for Dry July are having trouble moderating and curious about taking a break. Secondly, most who do Dry...2025-03-2230 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastAm I an Alcoholic?In this episode, we talk about the term “alcoholic”. The phrase “am I an alcoholic?” is frequently googled and many use this as the starting point for exploring whether alcohol has become a problem for them. We explore the derivation of this term, why some people with alcohol use disorders do not relate to or identify with this term and what are some alternatives to this label. Two important points to note in relation to this episode: firstly, if you are moderate to heavy consistent drinker and you feel you may be physically addicted then it is important that you seek m...2025-03-1624 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastHappy New Year from NDT!In this episode, Meg reflects on three years of living alcohol-free and the transformative impact it's had on her life and relationships. From rebuilding trust with herself and her children to discovering the joy of self-validation, every step has been a revelation. With the support of a vibrant community and the power of coaching, Meg has turned distant dreams into reality. Join Meg as she shares insights from her six-year journey toward alcohol freedom, emphasising the importance of persistence, community, and incremental growth. This podcast is filled with hope, inspiration, and stories of personal transformation—reminding us that...2024-12-2817 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastAnnie Grace's This Naked Mind!On our Christmas Eve One-Year Anniversary, we welcome Annie Grace, the trailblazing founder of This Naked Mind! Annie talks about her transformation to an alcohol-free author of This Naked Mind, creator of The Alcohol Experiment and a coach of alcohol coaches spreading her This Naked Mind methodology across the globe. We talk about how she wrote This Naked Mind, the four-step liminal process that's reshaping lives, why her book works, what sets This Naked Mind Coaches apart from others and her top tip for all of us hoping to get through this Christmas Day alcohol fre...2024-12-2137 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastMerry Christmas 2024 from Meg and BellaMeg and Bella wish all of our dear listeners and podcast guests a huge Merry Christmas! Are you celebrating your Christmas at a Bowling Club? Probably not! We are! Meg and Bell discover they are each heading off to Manly and Balmain Bowling Club for a family game of bare foot bowls for Christmas. It's cheap, it's outdoors, it's fun and what's more, you get to delegate everything! Yes!As the festive season unfolds, we're thrilled to announce our upcoming podcast plans, featuring curated episodes designed to ease the holiday stress, no matter your relationship with alcohol...2024-12-1915 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastDr Jodi Richardson on ANXIETY!In this episode we interview one of Australia's leading lights in managinganxiety. An educational leader, Dr Jodi Richardson supportsparents and teachers to change their relationship with anxiety,dial it right down and light the way for their children and studentsto do the same.Jodi is professional speaker supporting whole school communitiesaround Australia, the best-selling author of the books 'AnxiousKids' and 'Anxious Mums', hosts the popular podcast 'Well, helloanxiety' and is a mum of two. Learn how to manage anxiety before turning to alcohol to s...2024-11-2345 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastMrs D is Going without - Lotta Dann interviewMeet Lotta Dann, also known as Mrs D, the anonymous blogger who discovered the tremendous power of online support for those seeking sobriety.From sharing her personal journey on her long-running blog, Mrs D Is Going Without, Lotta has become an inspiring figure for people quitting drinking.Join us on the podcast as we delve into her fascinating story as we discuss what rock bottom is like when it's NOT a major incident, the challenges of moderation, the impact of alcohol on society, and much more. Grab your cup of tea, your headphones, what ever you...2024-11-0946 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastLisa Greenberg's Perfectly Imperfect Sobriety Story(*An oldie but a goodie with the awesome Lisa Greenberg back in the day when our pod was called She's Sober Sydney*) Join us as we talk with the glorious perfectly imperfect Lisa Greenberg about her alcohol addiction and her path to sobriety and beyond. As a highly sought-after speaker, fitness consultant, columnist and founder of SOBEROBICS, Lisa’s passion for inspiring, elevating and empowering women truly resonates. Her energy and enthusiasm for life is contagious. In this episode, Lisa is refreshingly honest and open about how dark her battle with alcohol got for her. We discuss the secrecy and...2024-11-0249 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastMeg: The real reasons I drank alcohol!Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of your habits, driving them to become part of your daily life? Join me, Meg, as I unravel the complexities of my alcohol dependency, fueled by deep-seated feelings of unworthiness and anxiety. It's a candid reflection on how social drinking transformed into a solitary escape, rooted in childhood experiences that painted the world as an unsafe place. Through honest introspection, I share how these formative events and beliefs shaped a narrative that led me to seek solace in alcohol, offering listeners a chance to reflect on their own stories and...2024-10-2620 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today Podcast100th Episode Milestone Celebration with Meg and BellaCelebrating our 102nd episode, we (that's Meg and Bella!) reflect on our favourite podcast episodes and the conversations that we have had the honour of recording of the last two years. Join us as we share stories from our favourite episodes featuring inspiring guests like William Porter, Professor Selena Bartlett, Annie Grace, Emma Bardwell, Sophie Scott and Jolene Park, who have enriched our understanding of how alcohol impacts our health, including menopause, anxiety, depression, joy and relationships. The transformative power of living without alcohol (or less of it!) has been the centrepiece of our podcast but the un...2024-10-0423 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastFoundation for Alcohol Research & Education (FARE) CEO, Caterina GiorgiToday we talk to Caterina Giorgi, the CEO of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) about the crucial role FARE plays in Australia in commissioning research on alcohol harm and advocating for essential changes to Australia’s alcohol laws and policies. We cover a lot in this episode, including the alarming ways alcohol advertising targets young kids, how pervasive alcohol marketing is, the destructive effects of alcohol consumption across different demographics and the significant role alcohol plays in family violence. Caterina explains the manipulative tactics of alcohol companies, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the powerful lobbying ef...2024-08-3141 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastDanielle Fleming: Navigating pregnancy and alcohol.What experiences led Danielle Fleming, a former heavy drinker in the hospitality industry, to transform her life and become a pregnancy sobriety coach? Discover Danielle's powerful story of resilience and change as she opens up about the grip alcohol had on her and the life-altering moment of realizing she was pregnant in January 2020. Hear how she navigated the tough road to sobriety for her baby's health and found solace and guidance in Annie Grace's methodology, which helped her reshape her view on alcohol.In this heartfelt episode, you'll hear about the emotional rollercoaster of an unexpected pregnancy...2024-08-1036 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastThe Nude Nutritionist, Lyndi Cohen, on How to Farewell Binging Food & BoozeToday we talk to Lyndi Cohen, AKA The Nude Nutritionist, about making peace with food and booze. Lyndi helps people to farewell binge and emotional eating and to find a healthier and more balanced way to think about and approach food, based on self-compassion, acceptance and kindness. Lyndi also happens to be an alcohol-free woman. Lyndi opens up about the surprising benefits she discovered, such as reduced anxiety and enhanced well-being, and dives into the mindset shifts and challenges she faced along the way. We talk about How to control sugar binges, why alcohol makes us look bloated, how...2024-08-0334 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastSober Socialising and Building a Strong CommunityEver wondered how embracing patience, persistence, and resilience can transform your life? Join us as we speak with Mags Sheridan, an embodiment coach whose journey of quitting alcohol and embracing sobriety since 2016 has profoundly reshaped her world. Mags delves into her extensive involvement with SMART Recovery, a program that employs cognitive and rational emotive behavioral therapy tools to tackle a wide range of addictions. In this episode, we emphasise the power of recognising and addressing unhealthy patterns before they spiral out of control. Mags shares her personal experiences and we explore the stigma associated with the term "...2024-07-2741 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastHello Sunday Morning With CEO, Dr Nicole leeHello Sunday Morning's (HSM) CEO, Dr Nicole Lee, joins Not Drinking Today to talk about the remarkable work HSM does to support individuals to drink less. HSM's mission is to aim to change the world's relationship with alcohol one Sunday at a time! This is exactly what HSM does via its incredible Daybreak App, research, weekly blogs and social media and online platform engagements. Dr Lee talks about her own relationship with alcohol, her unwavering commitment to social justice, and the innovative online support systems Hello Sunday Morning offers to help individuals reduce or quit alcohol consumption. Dr. Lee...2024-07-2034 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastCrafting Inclusivity: The Seadrift StoryCan a passion for local flavors and a desire for inclusivity redefine an entire industry? Join us as we sit down with Carolyn Whiteley, the visionary co-founder of Seadrift Distillery, to explore her transformative journey from a career in global spirits marketing to pioneering the non-alcoholic beverage movement in Australia. Carolyn opens up about her personal relationship with alcohol and how the birth of her first child led her to reevaluate her role in the alcohol industry. She shares the inspiration behind Seadrift Distillery, a venture born out of a love for Australian produce and innovative, alcohol-free spirits made...2024-07-1327 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastSober Dave: One For The RoadTransforming his life in January 2019, David Wilson, Certified Grey Area Drinking Coach and Public Speaker, is dedicated to motivating others to transform their lives, overcome personal challenges and embrace life with a renewed mindset. His Top 10 Apple Podcast 'One For The Road' reaches a global audience with over 300K downloads in the first year. Dave's established Instagram account @soberdave has a loyal and engaged following of over 118K, where he delivers regular live interviews with guests from the sober community all over the world. The road to sobriety was not an easy one for Dave, marked by a...2024-07-0650 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastKate Nichols: From Hidden Drinking to Empowered SobrietyWhat if your dependence on alcohol not only jeopardised your health but also strained your most treasured relationships? This week, we have the privilege of speaking with Kate Nichols, an inspiring alcohol recovery coach who shares her heartfelt journey from university drinking habits to a life of sobriety. Kate's candidness about hiding her drinking and its emotional toll on her family will resonate deeply with anyone who has faced similar struggles.As Kate recounts the pivotal moment that led her to confront her addiction—Father's Day 2021, amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic—she illuminates the transformative powe...2024-06-2937 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastSOBER SEX! Let's Talk About It Right Now ....* This is not the best topic to listen to on speaker with your kids in the background!** If the topic of sex is triggering for you, then perhaps hit pause and move to another episodeOK, SOBER SEX… Let’s talk about it. Why?! Because it comes up a lot. Discreetly and tentatively at first but it presents as a major issue often when alcohol is removed from your life. Also, if drinking has been part of your whole sexual history then you may not even know if you enjoy sex at all! 2024-06-2230 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastGetting present and sober with Ellie CroweHave you ever wondered how societal norms around drinking are subtly shaping your habits? This week, we're thrilled to welcome Ellie Crow from the Present and Sober Podcast. Ellie, a This Naked Mind senior certified coach, bravely opens up about her gradual shift from casual social drinking to using alcohol as a coping mechanism after becoming a mother and running a business. Her candid reflections offer invaluable insights into the normalisation of alcohol in our lives and the profound realisations that led her to seek freedom from its grasp.We also dive into the crucial role of...2024-06-1553 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastGirl Walks Out of A Bar: Recovered Lawyer & Trailblazing Author Lisa SmithWhat drives a successful lawyer to reveal a hidden struggle with addiction? In this compelling episode, we sit down with Lisa Smith, author of the acclaimed memoir "A Girl Walks Out of a Bar," who bravely shares her journey from the high-stakes world of law to battling alcohol and cocaine addiction. The book recounts her descent into and recovery from “high-functioning” alcohol and cocaine addiction in big New York City law firms. Lisa’s story launched her to the forefront of the movement to advance wellbeing in the legal profession. Lisa was named one of the New York Law Journa...2024-06-0844 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastEliza Parkinson: Parenting a child with Special NeedsJoin us as we chat with Eliza Parkinson, an alcohol mindset coach, who shares her journey from social drinking in her teens to the pressures of "mommy drinking culture" during motherhood. Eliza faced emotional turmoil, especially after her second child was diagnosed with special needs, and turned to alcohol to cope.Discover how Eliza realised that alcohol was the problem, not her, and her path to recovery with support from figures like Annie Grace and Laura McKowen. Her story highlights the importance of self-forgiveness and understanding addiction as a societal issue.Eliza discusses the unique...2024-06-0134 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastSurf Your Urge: Ride Your Craving Wave and Regain Impulse ControlHave you ever felt the grip of an alcohol craving, only to feel powerless against it? In this episode, we explore the empowering technique of 'surfing the urge'. This technique is backed by by science. It alters your brain's circuitry to allow greater control over impulses and emotional regulation so that you can hit pause between a craving and knocking back your first glass. This is where freedom lies.For anyone on the path to reducing alcohol consumption or maintaining sobriety, this episode offers ten mindful steps to help you navigate a drinking urge. Pushing t...2024-05-2521 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastWilliam Porter: "Alcohol Explained”Today, we have the honor of speaking with William Porter, the insightful author of "Alcohol Explained." William spent years in the throes of his own drinking career, unknowingly gathering the research and experiences that would later form the foundation of his life-changing book. In this episode William is generous in his knowledge and wisdom. William offers a profound perspective on alcohol that has the power to transform lives. Let's dive into his journey and discover the truths he's uncovered.Williams website: https://alcoholexplained.com/the-author/ MEGWeb: https://www...2024-05-1839 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastAre you drinking too much? 10 Red Flags to ConsiderHave you ever woken up at 3am with a pounding heart and a regretful mind, questioning your decision to indulge in those extra drinks? Or found yourself promising to cut back, only to slip back into old habits when stress kicks in? Today Bella talks about her 10 unmistakable red flags that signal it's time to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. Whether it's the wake-up calls, the failed moderation attempts, or the realisation that you're self-medicating, we're tackling these issues head-on.Taking a break from drinking isn't just about giving up something; it's about gaining a whole new...2024-05-1125 minThe Not Drinking Alcohol Today PodcastBlackout Drinking!I never imagined that so many special memories in my life would be a blur. The harsh reality of alcohol-induced blackouts left a mark on what should have been some of the clearest and happiest days of my life. Tune in as I, Meg, unravel the harrowing connection between these blackouts and anxiety, and the role they've played in my own journey. It's a stark look at the silent battle many face, as the quest to ease social nerves can lead to moments lost in time and the frightening inability to form memories.This episode isn't just...2024-05-0418 min