Episode 8

Vic and Victoria Vanstone (Sober Awkward), Sober Alcohol Free Stories, the power of humour and the enormous gratification found in being who we were always supposed to be!

Published on: 21st February, 2025

 Hi everybody and welcome to Sober Alcohol Free Stories. I'm Victoria and I don't drink. Today I'll talk to Victoria Vanstone, podcaster and author of A Thousand Wasted Sundays. This is a really special episode for me because Vic's podcast has kept me company for three years in my sobriety and she's one of the reasons that I chose to make this podcast for you.

We will hear all about her drinking evolution and the moments that led to her decision to seek therapy and then sobriety. And I'll get the chance to thank Vic and tell her myself that she means way more to me than being the lady who blew her finger off with a firework.

Transcript
Speaker:

.

Hi everybody and welcome to Sober Alcohol Free Stories.

2

:

I'm Victoria and I don't drink.

3

:

Today I'll talk to Victoria

Vanstone, podcaster and author

4

:

of A Thousand Wasted Sundays.

5

:

This is a really special episode for

me because Vic's podcast has kept me

6

:

company for three years in my sobriety

and she's one of the reasons that I

7

:

chose to make this podcast for you.

8

:

We will hear all about her

drinking evolution and the

9

:

moments that led to her decision

to seek therapy and then sobriety.

10

:

And I'll get the chance to thank Vic

and tell her myself that she means

11

:

way more to me than being the lady who

blew her finger off with a firework.

12

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

hi Vic.

13

:

Thank you so much for

coming on my podcast today.

14

:

You can probably tell people who know

me will be able to tell that I'm just

15

:

beaming right now, because played a

big part in my sober story and yourself

16

:

and Hamish all your wonderful tales

that you tell on your podcast and

17

:

funny conversations that you have.

18

:

And, and also, for lots of people I know

that are sabre, we talk about your podcast

19

:

a lot in our groups, so for you to know

that's such a gift that you have given.

20

:

I knew when I started this that I was

going to have to ask you to come on,

21

:

but I did not expect you to say yes.

22

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I always say yes.

23

:

I love talking about it.

24

:

And also, you know, I needed people on

my podcast in the beginning as well.

25

:

And it's, you have to kind of

give back in that respect as well

26

:

and just say yes to everybody.

27

:

I mean, sometimes if I'm really busy with

the kids, I'm like, I just can't fit it

28

:

in, but you caught me on a good week.

29

:

So yeah, I'm happy to come on

and chat on your lovely podcast.

30

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Ah, thank you so much.

31

:

And so sober alcohol free stories.

32

:

, with all of my guests, I asked

them to tell their story.

33

:

And if there are anyone who hasn't

listened to your podcast, they might not

34

:

know, the story of what took you from

being a party girl, um, who sounds rather

35

:

like I was, , to the person that you

are now and all of that you've achieved.

36

:

So I'm just going to hand over to you

and ask you if you can share the story.

37

:

from Drinker to Vic where you are

38

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah.

39

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

obviously we'll have a bit of a

40

:

laugh along the way, hopefully,

41

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah.

42

:

I mean, it is funny in a sick sort of way.

43

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: It

44

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I'm still a party animal,

45

:

but a sober party animal now.

46

:

So yeah, I have changed, but in some ways

and not so much others, unfortunately.

47

:

But yeah, I am from Reading,

originally in the UK.

48

:

As you can probably tell by my

accent, I live in Australia now.

49

:

I have three kids and a husband and I live

up on the Sunshine Coast, which is about

50

:

an hour north of Brisbane on the beach.

51

:

It's lovely here.

52

:

boiling today.

53

:

It's too hot.

54

:

I'm sorry if you can hear the

fan in the background, but yeah,

55

:

it's about 35 degrees at night

or something stupid like that.

56

:

So yeah, I moved to the sunshine, which

is always a good move when you get sober

57

:

is to go to a different country and

preferably the other side of the world

58

:

to get away from all my terrible history.

59

:

So yeah.

60

:

I was born into a family who love a drink.

61

:

I mean, a lot of us Brits are.

62

:

It was the sort of drinking that

I would describe as celebrational

63

:

and frivolous rather than toxic.

64

:

I think that's part of the problem when

it's so ingrained and so normalized.

65

:

growing up and it's

never seen as a problem.

66

:

Of course, I didn't think

I don't want to do that.

67

:

I just wanted to join in.

68

:

So from a very young age, I

had older brothers and sisters.

69

:

Everybody was joining

in the party before me.

70

:

And all I could see about alcohol

was that it made people happy.

71

:

It made people have fun.

72

:

Everybody did it.

73

:

It seemed to relax people

and make them funnier.

74

:

So I . I never considered as a child

obviously, 'cause my brain was still

75

:

a bit squishy and, and underdeveloped,

and I just absorbed all the good bits.

76

:

I thought about booze and just

thought, well, this looks like a laugh.

77

:

I want in.

78

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Mm-hmm

79

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

stealing booze out of the

80

:

garage and outta the shed.

81

:

It was all piled up in my house.

82

:

It was everywhere.

83

:

My parents were real partyers.

84

:

I never saw anyone like.

85

:

You know, fighting or passed out

or any of the downsides of alcohol.

86

:

As I said, I just saw the good side.

87

:

So yeah, I just started joining in

secret squirreling away booze at the

88

:

weekends from about the age of 12 to 13.

89

:

And kind of was always the

instigator from the start.

90

:

You know, if I had mates over, I was like,

come on, this is what we're going to do.

91

:

We're not going to the park

or to make Daisy chains.

92

:

We're actually going to steal booze out

of my parents shed and get fucking wasted.

93

:

And I thought that made me cool and that

is something that continued throughout my

94

:

youth was that I used alcohol to create

a personality almost, create a kind of,

95

:

persona that was fun, that was the party

animal, that was the person you wanted to

96

:

spend time with because that's all I could

grasp onto because it was all I knew.

97

:

And that of course led me down some dark

paths, which I realize now were big red

98

:

flags sort of whipping me in the face.

99

:

And I never took heed of those

sort of warnings from a young age.

100

:

They were happening all around me.

101

:

And it took me many, many years

until actually, until I turned 40 to

102

:

understand the sort of level of toxicity

of my relationship with alcohol.

103

:

So as a teen, of course, I

used it to make myself more.

104

:

You know, confident with boys.

105

:

I used it to pep up my friendships

and unfortunately at that age, when I

106

:

was about 14 or 15, I had some really

close friends and they turned on me,

107

:

not physically, it wasn't a situation

where I was bullied or called any names,

108

:

but they just decided they wouldn't

want to be friends with me anymore.

109

:

And that caused me.

110

:

I didn't realize until many, many

years later, but it caused me to

111

:

have a little bit of a void in me

that I choose to fill with alcohol.

112

:

And I think actually then was when

my drinking went from being frivolous

113

:

like my family's drinking to it

actually being to numb some pain.

114

:

And I think that's where my

drinking changed from an early age.

115

:

Yeah.

116

:

So then I,

117

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: hard

time that age, isn't it though, for your

118

:

friends to sort of reject you like that?

119

:

I've listened to that story.

120

:

I've heard you tell it and I can relate

to it in a slightly different way.

121

:

I didn't have the same thing.

122

:

I just didn't really know anyone.

123

:

'cause I moved around a lot as a child,

so I was always looking to have friends.

124

:

have had them and then lost

them in that way is quite hard.

125

:

Yeah,

126

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

and I think I undermined that pain

127

:

actually a little bit and now years later,

I do understand that sort of trauma is

128

:

relative and like, you know, I might not

have been, as I say in the book, locked

129

:

in the cupboard like Harry Potter, but

I did have a level of pain that caused a

130

:

reaction within me and it didn't matter.

131

:

Whether it was massive trauma or medium

trauma, It affected me in the way that

132

:

I lived my life and my emotional state.

133

:

And therefore it led me to

want to numb out that pain.

134

:

And the only way I knew how

to do that was to drink more.

135

:

So it kind of led to more destructive

behavior because I had a little bit

136

:

of a broken heart and I didn't know

how to deal with it as simple as that.

137

:

And that led to me as I grew into my

older teens, you know, my brothers and

138

:

sisters were all party animals as well.

139

:

Every family get together,

involved loads of booze.

140

:

Eventually that was

recreational drug use.

141

:

I was growing up in the

nineties, it was LADEC culture.

142

:

It was ecstasy coming onto the scene,

loads of raves, you know, all of

143

:

these other influences upon someone

who already had a broken heart.

144

:

I was the perfect

145

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

yeah,

146

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

to be like that sort of classic

147

:

nineties raver who was just off

their nut for about 10 years.

148

:

So, yeah.

149

:

Everything just led me to the next

drug, or the next shag, or the

150

:

next fucked up relationship, or

whatever alcohol was doing to me.

151

:

It was taking away who I was, and all

that was left over was somebody who

152

:

was sort of a shell of who they were.

153

:

Could have been, but I didn't

obviously realize that at the time.

154

:

I just thought I'm a drinker.

155

:

I'm a party animal.

156

:

You can come to me for a good time.

157

:

You know, you can, I'm a reliable

drinking buddy and that's who I became.

158

:

So yeah, I went traveling

around the world with my.

159

:

Problems in my backpack and left

England at the age of about 19 or

160

:

20 and traveled the world and booze.

161

:

I ended up at various different

beaches at different parties.

162

:

One of them being full moon party

in Copenhagen, where I blew my

163

:

finger finger off with a firework.

164

:

On the millennium night, just

a little red flag there, which

165

:

I laughed off the next day.

166

:

I was like, haha, I blown my

finger off brilliant story.

167

:

I'm still living off that story now.

168

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: hmm.

169

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I've still got the scars.

170

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

actually.

171

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah.

172

:

that story does come up a lot nowadays.

173

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: but,

174

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

realize my entire career would

175

:

be based upon that story.

176

:

but it is.

177

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

it's true actually . If I'm on a Zoom

178

:

with sober people and we're talking

about the different things that we

179

:

use and I will say, Oh, have you heard

of the, the Sober Awkward Podcast?

180

:

It's Victoria Vanstone, you know, the lady

who blew her finger off with firework.

181

:

Sorry,

182

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Uh,

183

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: say

184

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I just, when it happened, you just

185

:

think, oh God, that's just kind of,

it was a badge of honour, because I

186

:

was like, this is how fucked up I get.

187

:

I blow digits off my body, because I'm

such a hardened drinker, like this is

188

:

how, I actually thought it was quite cool

that I had a finger missing for years.

189

:

Yeah, I realise now that it's absolutely

stupid, but hey, I didn't know any better.

190

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

it shows how far you've come,

191

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Totally,

192

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

like, gosh, that's, that's where you

193

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

think when you're from a family

194

:

of people with stories, like my

family love a good story, like an

195

:

exaggerated, really extreme story.

196

:

So I was like, Oh, I went now I've

got the best story in the whole world.

197

:

Now I am slightly humiliated

when I have to tell that story.

198

:

I mean, I still think it's funny, but

like it was a stupid thing to do.

199

:

It was like, I didn't blow my

head off quite honestly, but.

200

:

whenever anything happened to me, like if

I had a weird, terrible relationship or,

201

:

you know, I overdosed on drugs or I ended

up in a cult or all of this crazy stuff

202

:

that I got up to in the sort of nineties

and two thousands, I just considered

203

:

it as part of my crazy story and that I

wasn't living life like everybody else.

204

:

And I was going to live on the

edge and be a traveler in this.

205

:

Nomad and just carry my problems

on a backpack wherever I went.

206

:

And I always felt that I could leave.

207

:

Like that was the good thing about

being a backpacker and a traveler

208

:

was if I did do something crazy or

stupid, I could just leave the next

209

:

day and leave all my problems behind,

which I did often, quite honestly.

210

:

So yeah, I ended up in Australia after.

211

:

, being involved with the tsunami and

losing my house and nearly losing

212

:

my boyfriend in that situation.

213

:

But that's all in my book,

which we'll talk about later.

214

:

and ended up in Australia and I

met my husband and things changed

215

:

a little bit then because for the

first time I met somebody who.

216

:

for me without the drink in me.

217

:

And I'd never met anyone like that before.

218

:

He likes the person that, you

know, lay beneath the beer and the

219

:

bravado and all the other bullshit.

220

:

So I kind of was like, Oh, I

let a new side of me shine out.

221

:

And I became a bit more, you know, I was

always a bit of a tomboy, but I became

222

:

a bit more feminine and a bit more.

223

:

in touch with my emotions.

224

:

I was still heavily drinking at the time.

225

:

I'm not, when I talk about my

drinking, I'm not talking about

226

:

somebody who was an alcoholic.

227

:

I, I don't resonate with that term.

228

:

Image that springs to mind when somebody

says the word alcoholic is not who I am.

229

:

I wasn't a daily drinker.

230

:

Nothing, not that there's

anything wrong with it.

231

:

It's just a, I think these

terms and these labels.

232

:

Can put people in a box a little bit

and I don't fit into any of those boxes

233

:

personally I know for some people that

label can help them understand their

234

:

problem But for me, it doesn't sit well

on me when I talk about my drinking.

235

:

I was a binge drinker I was a socially

normalized binge drinker and I drank

236

:

at weekends or maybe twice a week

Probably more than an alcoholic if

237

:

you added it all up together I mean

it wasn't every day but when I did

238

:

go out I went hard and I didn't stop

239

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: hmm,

240

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

So

241

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: hmm,

242

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

about my drinking and becoming a mom and

243

:

all these other things, people pop to this

image of me being this kind of alcoholic

244

:

parent, lying on the floor covered in

vomit and, taking care of my Children.

245

:

But that wasn't the case.

246

:

Actually, if you'd see my Facebook

pictures, you know, my husband and I

247

:

got married and I got pregnant very,

very quickly when we lived in Australia,

248

:

if you'd seen the pictures of those

periods, you would have thought.

249

:

That's just someone

who's kind of got it all.

250

:

Someone who's very happy, but

actually the P I had a baby and

251

:

I remember getting pregnant and

thinking, I don't want to change.

252

:

I don't want this baby to stand in

the way of me and my, my persona.

253

:

Cause that's all I knew.

254

:

And I don't think anyone really explains

the transition between party girl and mom.

255

:

very often.

256

:

They don't say, this is

going to be massive for you.

257

:

You go from being this person,

like sipping coconuts on far flung

258

:

beaches, like I was, to being in an

apartment on my own with a crying baby

259

:

and I didn't know what I was doing.

260

:

And it was very, very overwhelming.

261

:

And my husband went back for work and

I was left holding the baby as it were.

262

:

And.

263

:

With that came a different

style of drinking.

264

:

I'd gone from being the, you know, the

young teenager with the classic, you

265

:

know, boozing in the park, and then I'd

gone to somebody with a bit of a broken

266

:

heart and drinking for the wrong reasons.

267

:

And then I became,, a kind of drug

adult, 20 year old and all of my

268

:

drinking kept evolving and changing

as each of my emotions changed.

269

:

And actually, when I became a mom,

I drank to escape the mundanity

270

:

of being a new mom and all,

everything that came along with it.

271

:

those evening wines started to pop

into my routine and I started to crave

272

:

going out at the weekends because

I didn't know who I was anymore.

273

:

I wasn't the person I knew and I

started going out and every time I

274

:

went out, I got massively pissed and

got home the next morning and couldn't

275

:

look after my child the next day.

276

:

And that was the first ever

consequence to my drinking.

277

:

So with That came vast amounts of

anxiety and shame and dread until

278

:

the point where eventually I dreaded

going out because I knew that I

279

:

couldn't control my drinking If I had

one down the hatch, I was having 10.

280

:

It was as simple as that.

281

:

Even if I went out with good intentions,

of course they were down the drain

282

:

after the first glass of wine and

I was last man standing on any

283

:

grubby dance floor wherever I was.

284

:

So yeah.

285

:

It just developed my drinking over

time and it became clear after

286

:

the panic went on for four years.

287

:

Actually, it was a long time of me

trying to moderate, trying to slow

288

:

down, trying to do better, using all

these different techniques to try, you

289

:

know, water between wines and all that.

290

:

Bullshit to try and understand

and continue drinking.

291

:

Cause that's what I wanted to do.

292

:

I thought, who am I?

293

:

If I don't drink, I can't not drink.

294

:

So I used to just keep trying and

going out and drinking again, never,

295

:

ever succeeding at moderation.

296

:

And eventually the anxiety got so

bad, I had a second child, I had

297

:

another nine months of sobriety, like

this little window of another life.

298

:

And then after the second baby was six

weeks old, I went out and got massively

299

:

pissed one night and woke up the next

morning and knew that I just mentally.

300

:

I could not go on because I, I was scared

for my own life because the anxiety had

301

:

got so bad that I actually felt like

I was going mad and I couldn't control

302

:

my thoughts and , that I was going

to die any minute of a panic attack.

303

:

And that was with, you know, a newborn

baby holding, you know, in my arms

304

:

crying and me not knowing what to do.

305

:

So, yeah, I, I reached

out for help that day.

306

:

I understood that I couldn't

get better on my own.

307

:

I needed help to recover and I called

a therapist that afternoon and said

308

:

to my husband, I need help here.

309

:

I'm failing at moderation and somebody

needs to step in and help me understand

310

:

my relationship with alcohol.

311

:

I went into therapy hoping

to become a better drinker.

312

:

That was my plan.

313

:

I still laugh about that now.

314

:

She's going to teach me to do this

really well so I don't get hung over.

315

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

It's like you think there's a secret,

316

:

isn't there, to being a really good

317

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Well, I just thought,

318

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

like you did

319

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

yeah,

320

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

you think, hmm, there's got

321

:

to be a way to do this because

other people do it, don't they?

322

:

You think they do.

323

:

You think all these people are like

sitting there having like these glamorous

324

:

drinks and some of them do, they just

have one And then they go home and

325

:

that's weird, most people don't do

326

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

no,

327

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: most

people do end up getting pissed and then,

328

:

you know, they probably all do stupid

things, but it's like you fight for this.

329

:

I know exactly what you mean.

330

:

Like you're fighting to be

able to just do something that

331

:

doesn't really exist for you.

332

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

no, it doesn't.

333

:

No,

334

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

identity that you've in,

335

:

and then becoming a mum.

336

:

And I literally can feel it, like

as you're talking, I can feel like

337

:

how I felt, because it was the same.

338

:

And you know, I had developed that

pure identity of the party girl.

339

:

You'll always have a good time.

340

:

Well, you know, it will

be a great night out.

341

:

And I thought that's

what made people like me.

342

:

And, it's really quite hard then when

you've got a baby and you can't do,

343

:

you're trying to do those things.

344

:

And then you're just.

345

:

end up fucking everything

up, really, don't you?

346

:

Because you can't really be the

party girl properly, and you can't

347

:

really be a mum, and like you, the

anxiety for me was just I hated it.

348

:

I didn't like myself at all, very much.

349

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

It's amazing.

350

:

But do you know what that is?

351

:

Like I realized now that the anxiety was

actually, it was my body asking for help.

352

:

It was my body screaming out saying,

please stop doing this to me.

353

:

It's hurting.

354

:

It's hurting me.

355

:

It's hurting you.

356

:

It's hurting my brain.

357

:

Please.

358

:

it was actually a sign that I

was ignoring for a long time.

359

:

It was so, it's so obvious now that

when you're having anxiety after

360

:

drinking, it's caused by the drinking.

361

:

I just couldn't kind of get my

head around that when I was in it.

362

:

I was like, I just need to find

out a better way of doing this

363

:

so that I can carry on being the

only person I know how to be.

364

:

Because it's not about giving

up drinking in the, at the end

365

:

of the day, giving up booze is.

366

:

the tiniest thing you have to do.

367

:

You have to learn who you are

without it, who you were before it

368

:

and who you are after it's finished.

369

:

And that can be really, really hard

to comprehend and understand because

370

:

you are so used to who you are.

371

:

And I didn't realize this whole

entire being lived inside me.

372

:

I didn't know I could do a podcast or

write a book or any of these things.

373

:

I just sold.

374

:

Jewelry on the markets.

375

:

I didn't really ever have a proper job.

376

:

I was just kind of a bum.

377

:

I didn't realize that I had a brain that

was sat dormant for so many years and was

378

:

numbed out by booze and sort of stagnant.

379

:

And that sort of stuff all comes

alive after you give up drinking, but

380

:

you never consider that at the time.

381

:

You never even know that there

is another person that is just

382

:

desperate to burst out of that kind

of hungover, bloated, drunken body.

383

:

There's a whole person in there that

was hiding away for so many years,

384

:

so it really is an incredible I'm not

going to say the word journey because

385

:

that's wank, but I'm going to say

386

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: I

387

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

was an incredible,

388

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

the word

389

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

yeah,

390

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

journey,

391

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

it was an incredible, insight into, it

392

:

sounds self indulgent as well, but you've

got to be a little bit self indulgent

393

:

to get better, I think, and you've got

to look, you know, those questions that

394

:

you lie asking yourself when you're

hungover, like, why am I doing this?

395

:

Why did I have that extra drink?

396

:

What's happening to me?

397

:

Am I an alcoholic?

398

:

All of those questions, like the

anxiety, are leading you somewhere.

399

:

And that somewhere is you finding the

answers and those answers are usually

400

:

when you start understanding that

it's probably time you went sober.

401

:

And that is why they call it a journey

because it takes a while to really

402

:

know what's going on with yourself.

403

:

It took me years to know like.

404

:

I'll just, I will mention a little

bit in the book because I went to

405

:

that therapy session going, Hey, I'm

just a stupid mom who overdrinks.

406

:

I'm a binge drinker and yeah,

I'm not really hot rock bottom,

407

:

but blah, blah, blah, blah.

408

:

And I remember just her

saying, why are you here, Vic?

409

:

Like saying it to me again

and again, why are you here?

410

:

And I just thought,

why am I here actually?

411

:

And then I remember saying quite quietly.

412

:

I think I have a problem with alcohol.

413

:

And I'd never ever

thought about that before.

414

:

I just thought it was everything else.

415

:

It was life.

416

:

It was problems.

417

:

I knew it was the alcohol that

I was doing, but I didn't really

418

:

see that as being the problem.

419

:

And she asked me again.

420

:

Why are you here?

421

:

And I just said, yeah, it's because I

actually have a problem with alcohol.

422

:

I keep doing something that I

hate and I can't stop doing it.

423

:

therefore, I have a problem with it.

424

:

And that's kind of the epiphany.

425

:

You get a lot of epiphanies in sobrieties,

but those first initial understandings of

426

:

your relationship with alcohol are what

propel you to find out even more answers.

427

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

yeah, definitely.

428

:

And it's hard to know what that's going

to be like because you spend so much time.

429

:

I think it was Lucy Rocker

who said this to me.

430

:

you know, that cloak of shame that you

carry and what you think of yourself.

431

:

It's hard to imagine that person

inside that you've now become and

432

:

I've now become as well is there

because you've spent lots of mornings

433

:

waking up saying, God, you're awful.

434

:

You're terrible.

435

:

Like you tell yourself all these

terrible things about yourself

436

:

and you weren't awful or terrible.

437

:

You know, you were just, you were drinking

too much and that impacts how you behave

438

:

and all of those things, but you've

told yourself the story so many times.

439

:

It's hard to believe what you could be.

440

:

It's actually a really nice thing for

anyone who's starting this process to

441

:

consider, like, I wonder what I could be.

442

:

I wonder what's in there,

because you don't know.

443

:

I didn't know I could do a

444

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

No.

445

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

I have a clue how to do a podcast.

446

:

And the only reason that I actually

even considered it is because of

447

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Ah.

448

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

because of Lucy Walker.

449

:

because I thought it's just brilliant

because stories are so important

450

:

and sharing them is so important.

451

:

So that people don't feel

452

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I know.

453

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

feel weird.

454

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

also, you have so much more time

455

:

when you're sober, , you have time

to consider what actually you enjoy.

456

:

Like, I don't, I know now, I never enjoyed

drinking, but I did it a lot, and it took

457

:

up a lot of my mental space, and now I

don't have that preoccupation with it.

458

:

It frees up space for other stuff.

459

:

And people often say to me, like, Vic,

what do you do now you don't drink?

460

:

And I just say, well,

I do everything else.

461

:

Everything else is like

drinking is such a minor thing.

462

:

And because I only hung out in pubs

and bars and clubs and everywhere

463

:

else, I thought drinking is just

what everybody did all the time.

464

:

I never considered that people

went for walks or went to morning

465

:

yoga or, you know, anything else.

466

:

So I never had a chance to . peer into

the lives of others that didn't drink.

467

:

It's only when I stopped, I understood

that there's so much more to life than

468

:

just going down the pub and having a pint.

469

:

So it takes a while to understand who

you are and actually what you enjoy.

470

:

It took me years to understand that

because I just, as I said, this thought

471

:

it was about where you give up the

alcohol and that's the end of it and you

472

:

stop and everything's fine and nothing

changes, but that's not how it goes.

473

:

It becomes this trajectory

of how you live.

474

:

Wellness.

475

:

I know that sounds a bit woo woo and

cheesy, but that is actually what

476

:

happens to, I think most people in

sobriety is that they give up the booze

477

:

and then they're like, right, what now?

478

:

And it becomes this kind of

search, this consistent search

479

:

of finding out what you enjoy.

480

:

Which is a lovely process because you

get to try out all sorts of different

481

:

things, different creative outlets or

different sports, people have to fill

482

:

that gap where wine used to reside

with other more fulfilling things.

483

:

And it's actually really

lovely kind of part of it.

484

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Yeah, it is a lovely part of it.

485

:

And you can't help but want to look

after yourself more and care about,

486

:

you know, your interests and all of

those things because you just feel

487

:

you deserve it more, don't you?

488

:

, it's really, it's very

clear to me in my mind that.

489

:

you know, I feel sad for the

person that I was because I never

490

:

felt like I deserved anything.

491

:

And I did, I just didn't know it.

492

:

But now it's just also clear.

493

:

So I do things like I look after my skin.

494

:

I've, I've learned to run

this year, did the couch to

495

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Oh, well done.

496

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

say it was enjoyable, but

497

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

No, that's good though.

498

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

I've done it.

499

:

Yeah.

500

:

We'll see how that goes.

501

:

But you know, you do, you start

learning lots of things, don't you?

502

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah.

503

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

yeah.

504

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

if there's any consolation, this morning,

505

:

it was my birthday yesterday and I

had a really lovely, like, chill day.

506

:

And then today some mates of mine

were going to an ice bath session

507

:

up in Noosa, near where I live.

508

:

And I was like, yeah,

yeah, I can do an ice bath.

509

:

And I did one with Hamish

last year on my birthdays.

510

:

One in his garden, but this was one

where you go into a sauna beforehand.

511

:

So you get boiling hot for 20 minutes

and then you have to go into this

512

:

freezing cold, like minus five.

513

:

I don't even know.

514

:

It must kind of be minus could have

been frozen, but it was bloody freezing.

515

:

I could tell you that.

516

:

And all of my mates were like in there,

like those Arctic monkeys, like zen with

517

:

their heads sticking out of the water.

518

:

Like, isn't this amazing?

519

:

And I was like, I couldn't stay

in for more than 10 seconds.

520

:

I was.

521

:

Absolutely useless.

522

:

So just because you're sober doesn't

mean you become good at all these things.

523

:

It means you

524

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

absolutely.

525

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

and then perhaps you never ever

526

:

do them again, but at least you're

available to try new things.

527

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

exactly.

528

:

At least you're awake.

529

:

You're not just in

530

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah.

531

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

You can give it a

532

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Totally.

533

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

and see what you

534

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Oh my God.

535

:

The ice

536

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Yeah.

537

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

have been a good hangover cure probably.

538

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

I would have shocked you

539

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah.

540

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: So,

when we first came on, I was basically

541

:

thanking you because your podcast and

your book has been amazing, but in my

542

:

difficult times in my sort of starting

this whole process time, your podcast was

543

:

something that I listened to every day.

544

:

I would walk and I would listen to it

and just feel like, I'm not on my own.

545

:

I'm not a complete weirdo and

laugh my head off by the way,

546

:

also at lots of the antics.

547

:

And, I just want to know a little

bit about how that got started.

548

:

What made you think of it?

549

:

because the concept is brilliant

because it's just funny.

550

:

it doesn't feel, I this one is obviously

stories and those are important as well,

551

:

but there is something very different,

which is probably why you won the

552

:

amazing awards that you won as well.

553

:

but about the funniness that goes

with it and making this lighthearted,

554

:

but also serious and, and sad

sometimes, this is brilliant.

555

:

It's such a great

556

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I think Victoria, it's about shame

557

:

and understanding that you don't

have to feel shame and that the

558

:

stories are often quite funny.

559

:

You know, I don't have any

shame about my past and being

560

:

able to free myself from that.

561

:

I understand now I'm able to talk

about my sobriety and my drinking with

562

:

pride because I comprehend, Oh wait,

we've got a little one coming in.

563

:

Hello?

564

:

What's

565

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Oh, which one?

566

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

going on?

567

:

George, I'm in the middle of a podcast.

568

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: Hi,

569

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Always one, isn't there?

570

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Yeah,

571

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah, so

572

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

that's funny.

573

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Where was I?

574

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

The shame,

575

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yes, so the shame, I'm I

576

:

don't feel the shame anymore.

577

:

I used to, in the beginning,

because I was sort of embarrassed

578

:

about my past behaviours.

579

:

But now, I realise that I really

never had a choice about alcohol.

580

:

And that has freed me.

581

:

It's like, you know, I feel

liberated from that shame.

582

:

because it was never really my fault.

583

:

Alcohol was coming for me

from a very, very young age.

584

:

My parents drank it.

585

:

All my peers drank it.

586

:

My brothers and sisters drank it.

587

:

The culture I grew up were all downing

it in every TV show, every advert,

588

:

everywhere I looked, people were drinking.

589

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

yeah,

590

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

like there was an arrow pointing

591

:

at me, being chucked at me and

landing in me and it was booze.

592

:

I was looking straight on at it

and I never ever differentiated.

593

:

I was like, this is what I'm

going to do and everything is

594

:

telling me that this is okay.

595

:

And in fact, that information was wrong.

596

:

I know that now because I've

re educated myself about booze

597

:

with everything that I do.

598

:

And I know that is not the right

message, but that is the message

599

:

I was getting everywhere I looked.

600

:

So therefore I can't really have

a lot of blame on myself because

601

:

I never had a choice, but all

I can do is learn about it.

602

:

And then hopefully Give my

children a choice like they won't

603

:

grow up in a house with alcohol.

604

:

You know, I'm not saying my kids will

never drink, but , I think I am giving

605

:

them a choice whether they do or not.

606

:

And I think that's how I'm able to

create what I do and write what I do and

607

:

podcast what I do, because the shame has

been left, , on the wayside along with

608

:

that old kebab that I threw in the bin.

609

:

Do you know what I mean?

610

:

It's like, it's not part of who I am.

611

:

I'm able to separate these two

people because they are so different.

612

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Yeah.

613

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I started writing on the day that I gave

614

:

up drinking after I walked out of that

therapist's office after 12 weeks of

615

:

unraveling my relationship with alcohol.

616

:

I sat down and started

writing my book actually.

617

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: hmm.

618

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I, remember thinking, well,

619

:

no one's going to read this.

620

:

So I'm going to be a

hundred percent honest.

621

:

And it just started off as a

diary of how I was feeling.

622

:

And because I felt like the only person

in the world who had given up a binge

623

:

drinking habit that hadn't reached

a point of a physical addiction or

624

:

extreme alcoholism problem, I felt

like I've stepped off the crazy bus a

625

:

bit early and not many people do that.

626

:

And I found that interesting

because, that made me someone

627

:

who didn't feel worthy of help.

628

:

And I reached out and got help even

though I didn't feel worthy of it.

629

:

So I found that whole sort of place

of being stuck between the pub and an

630

:

AA meeting where nothing really fitted

to be quite an interesting place.

631

:

And I sort of felt like a lot

of people sat there with me

632

:

and they didn't have a voice.

633

:

And I thought, well, there's going to

634

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: We

635

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

be a lot of people like me

636

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: Mm

637

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

And over drink and feel like shit,

638

:

but never ever do anything about it.

639

:

And I was like, actually, I'm

doing something about this.

640

:

So I'm going to, I'm

going to write this down.

641

:

And that became my blog, which is

the drunk mummy, sober mummy blog.

642

:

And then I met Lucy who.

643

:

I was writing an article, she used to run

Beanstalk Single Mums, and she was asking

644

:

for articles, and I wrote an article about

what it would be like to be a single mum

645

:

and be a drinker, because obviously that

is something people suffer with when

646

:

they're lonely, and of course single mums

feel quite lonely and isolated at times

647

:

and I sent her the article and she

wrote back to me and said, Oh, actually

648

:

I have my own problem with alcohol.

649

:

Can I meet you?

650

:

And I was like, Whoa, okay.

651

:

let's meet up.

652

:

And it turned out we were

very, very similar people.

653

:

Her drinking,

654

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: hmm.

655

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

a little more extreme than mine.

656

:

She was a day in a very different

habit, but very, very similar stories.

657

:

And actually that made it all the

more interesting because, we had

658

:

different stories, but a similar

sense of humor more than anything else.

659

:

She was, she had done podcasts before and

was like, do you want to do one with me?

660

:

I was like, yes, we came up with the name.

661

:

It was like, how does sobriety feel?

662

:

And we're like, it feels fucking awkward.

663

:

We called it sober, awkward, and

we recorded it with a little.

664

:

Guy that lived around the

corner, our sound guy, Alan.

665

:

Lucy gave up drinking three

days after meeting me.

666

:

And we started recording the podcast

literally a month after she gave

667

:

up drinking and it was like a real

time, , Log of her sobriety journey.

668

:

And now I was a few years by

then, but everything she was going

669

:

through was so relevant and watching

her, flower and blossom into this

670

:

amazing sober being that she is now.

671

:

It was just a wonderful

journey for the both of us.

672

:

And it just started to become really

popular because we did find it funny.

673

:

I didn't know her that well.

674

:

So she had a load of stories and I

had a load of stories and kind of

675

:

just started telling each other.

676

:

But just happened to record it.

677

:

So yeah, it became

678

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

yeah,

679

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

really quickly and we've been doing it

680

:

for over, I think this must be, it must

be three and a half years already.

681

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

well I was listening to you in, I stopped

682

:

in January 2022 and I was listening

to you, you girls then, it was the two

683

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah.

684

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

I remember a story Lucy was telling and

685

:

it was really relevant to me at the time

because I had only recently stopped and

686

:

so I felt quite akin to her

just in terms of where I was.

687

:

And, she was going to a friend's

birthday party and she'd promised

688

:

she was going to go to this party.

689

:

And she was talking to you one week

about what that was going to be like

690

:

and how she was preparing for it.

691

:

And then the next week she came

on and she hadn't been able to go.

692

:

And I thought it's just so

brilliant because it's so real.

693

:

There's, this is authentic.

694

:

This is what happens.

695

:

Like you might have to protect yourself.

696

:

You might have to say, I'm

not going to come actually.

697

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Hmm.

698

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

And I remember that being a real

699

:

moment for me, like hearing that

700

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

yeah.

701

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Cause it's real.

702

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

It did feel very real.

703

:

At the time, it almost didn't feel

like we were doing a recording

704

:

because it was actually just two

mates meeting up, finding out what had

705

:

been going on and how she was going.

706

:

And I used to worry about her because I

was like, Lucy, you can't stay at home.

707

:

You can't be a hermit.

708

:

You've got to get back into the

world and find out who you are.

709

:

. So we were coming from

very different angles.

710

:

I was kind of like her sober guru,

like trying to teach her the ways

711

:

of sobriety, but she would just

stay at home all the time and I'd

712

:

be like, I'm trying to drag her out.

713

:

But yeah, I used to get her out.

714

:

Occasionally she's moved to

England now with, to be with her

715

:

dad, who's been on quite unwell.

716

:

So she's, she left the podcast cause

she needed to be a bit more available.

717

:

And also talking about sobriety nonstop

forever as your job is not for everybody.

718

:

you know, it can just

be a part of your life.

719

:

It doesn't have to be your whole

thing like it is for me, like it's my

720

:

job and my life and everything else.

721

:

It's become ingrained in the two,

but for Lucy, she wanted to wrap

722

:

it up into a little box and, and

put it aside and live the rest of

723

:

her life, you know, as, as a sober.

724

:

person, but not making it such a big deal.

725

:

So yeah, she's doing really well.

726

:

And then I met Hamish, who's like this

incredible, you know, charismatic,

727

:

positive character who I actually

asked to go sober to come on the

728

:

podcast, which was really funny.

729

:

and what that's done is just create

this whole other audience because

730

:

not only is it about people who.

731

:

Perhaps question their alcohol intake

and don't get help and about alcoholism.

732

:

But now it's also about people who

perhaps never considered themselves

733

:

to have any sort of drink problem

and looking at the benefits of giving

734

:

up drinking for someone like that.

735

:

Which of course, even if you drink

one glass of wine or one glass

736

:

of wine a week or one a year,

there are still side effects.

737

:

So it's just been amazing to open

up that side for men because, you

738

:

know, he really resonates with young

men , who are into health and wellness.

739

:

because some people just give

up for those reasons, which is

740

:

a perfectly good reason as well.

741

:

So yeah, it covers all

bases now, sober awkward.

742

:

And we tend to aim it at anyone

who's ever had a hangover and just

743

:

say, look, let's look at that and try

and understand it and see if there's

744

:

anything we can do about that and try

and not have hangovers and what, what

745

:

life looks like without alcohol and

actually try and be really positive about.

746

:

Stopping and owning it and

being proud of your sobriety.

747

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

yeah, absolutely.

748

:

it's brilliant and Hamish is brilliant.

749

:

Tell him congratulations as

750

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah,

751

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

the baby.

752

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I had to go to some meetings in Sydney.

753

:

I live in near Brisbane and I

flew down to Sydney and I went

754

:

around for dinner at his house.

755

:

I hadn't seen him for ages.

756

:

We recorded a few episodes of the

podcast and then we had dinner.

757

:

His wife cooked us dinner.

758

:

She's 10 days to go and I was

looking at her tummy just going,

759

:

Oh my God, that is really low.

760

:

I think you're going to have

a baby like the next day.

761

:

An hour after I left, she went into labor.

762

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Oh, wow.

763

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

meant I was there so I could go the

764

:

next morning when I met the baby.

765

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Ah, that's so

766

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

So nice.

767

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Oh, well, congratulations to him and his

768

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yes.

769

:

Thank you.

770

:

. squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

also, just before you go, just your

771

:

book, I just want to make sure that

everyone knows about it, who's listening,

772

:

it's brilliant, I've got the audio

version, I've got the, the card copy

773

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Oh, well done.

774

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

both, because I like to do a bit of

775

:

walking, and also because you and

Hamish keep telling us to buy them,

776

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah,

777

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

I thought, I'll buy both,

778

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

well done.

779

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

super

780

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Well done.

781

:

It's so hard.

782

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: very

783

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

You can't get the hardback very

784

:

easily out of Australia because I

only have like a Australian publishing

785

:

deal so you can get it on Amazon.

786

:

Probably the best thing to do is to

get the ebook or get it on Amazon.

787

:

Especially if you're a

podcast listener, I read it.

788

:

, in my voice and my story, but yeah,

it's the book that I sat down to

789

:

write six years ago, never believing

in a million years that anyone would

790

:

ever read it, sent it to probably a.

791

:

thousand publishers.

792

:

People often say to me, I don't know

how you've been successful so quickly.

793

:

I'm like, this has taken years

of elbow grease and hard work and

794

:

emailing about a billion people a

day to try and get my story heard.

795

:

So it worked in the end.

796

:

And yet my book is called

a thousand wasted Sundays.

797

:

I worked out exactly how many

Sundays I'd wasted in bed being

798

:

hung over for the last 25 years.

799

:

And I didn't include the cheeky

Tuesdays or the two for one

800

:

Thursdays, but it was about.

801

:

A Thousand Sundays.

802

:

Yeah.

803

:

So that's out now.

804

:

You can buy it.

805

:

I've got a second book coming out on

the 29th of April about being a parent.

806

:

Yes.

807

:

Not about alcohol for once.

808

:

So that's really exciting.

809

:

It's about trying to be a good

mum and failing, but hoping that

810

:

unconditional love is enough.

811

:

That's all I'll tell you now.

812

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: one

813

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

It's called mumming.

814

:

I

815

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Right, okay, well I'll

816

:

definitely look out for it.

817

:

Make sure you let us know on

the podcast when it's out and

818

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

certainly don't worry.

819

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041: it,

820

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

I'll be shouting it from the rooftops.

821

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

I'm mumming teenagers at the moment,

822

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

it's terrible, isn't it?

823

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Yeah, let's not talk about

824

:

that, we're having a nice time.

825

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Oh good, okay, I'll stop.

826

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Well, thank you so much.,

827

:

I've thoroughly enjoyed talking to you.

828

:

It's one of my goals.

829

:

So thanks for coming on.

830

:

much appreciated.

831

:

And yeah, everybody's so awkward.

832

:

You have to listen to it.

833

:

It's just brilliant.

834

:

And buy the book.

835

:

So thank you, Vic.

836

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Thank you, Vix, and thank

837

:

you for having me on.

838

:

It's been really lovely.

839

:

When you do a podcast, your voice goes out

there and you don't know who it impacts.

840

:

And it's so lovely to, , just to hear

that, to know that the people hear

841

:

it and that it does change lives and

it has huge impact on people because

842

:

otherwise we just don't know that.

843

:

We just keep doing it.

844

:

We keep working and we're like, it's.

845

:

Are people still listening?

846

:

And you kind of tend to lose

motivation after a while, wondering

847

:

, if it really is helping people.

848

:

And when we get emails, and messages,

and people come up to us and say, thank

849

:

you, you know, your podcast has really

been instrumental in my sober life.

850

:

It is such a pleasure to hear it.

851

:

And it's.

852

:

So, so amazing to play our

tiny role that we do in the

853

:

sober lives of so many people.

854

:

And I couldn't be happier to come and

support you on your podcast as well.

855

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

You've played a massive, massive role in

856

:

mine and lots of people I know, so to all

three of you, so oh and Alan the Soundman

857

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Yeah.

858

:

I'll see him this week.

859

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

Ha ha ha, lovely.

860

:

vic---sober-awkward_1_02-12-2025_200039:

Nick.

861

:

squadcaster-1d2e_1_02-12-2025_100041:

well thanks very much Vic, bye!

862

:

Thank you for listening.

863

:

To Sabre alcohol-free stories.

864

:

If this episode helped you, please.

865

:

Please like share and follow.

866

:

Or leave a review on pod chaser.

867

:

Dot com.

868

:

And if you've got a story to

tell, please contact me on Sabre.

869

:

A F stories@outlook.com.

870

:

And don't forget.

871

:

You can make your catch phrase.

872

:

I don't drink.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Sober, Alcohol Free Stories

About the Podcast

Sober, Alcohol Free Stories
"I Don't Drink"
If you’ve ever googled “do I drink too much” this podcast is for you!

This is for those of you who end up wondering what’s wrong with you, questioning how your friends can possibly drink so slowly, or worse can just have one with dinner (aliens). For those of you who have tried to moderate, just a Thursday, only red wine, not before 6, not after 9, not if I’m wearing blue 😊

For those of you who secretly don’t enjoy the theatre because you know the show will be an interruption to a booze filled evening. For those who fall out with loved ones, lose handbags, feel lonely or shameful the morning after, wear sunglasses on the school run, or enjoy way too many mints for an average human. For those who need something to change but feel it it’s impossible to break up with their loyal companion – booze.

The good news is you are NOT weird, or alone, there’s millions of us, just like you. You CAN stop drinking alcohol. I know this because until Jan 2022 I was all the above, and now “I don’t drink”.

In this podcast we will delve in to what it takes to become alcohol free in a society that’s quite frankly obsessed with drinking! I’ll talk to people just like you and me, some near the beginning of their alcohol-free life, and some further along, but all with one thing in common, the courage to stare booze in the face and say NO, NOT ME, NOT ANYMORE! They will share their sliding doors moments, regrets, loves, pink clouds and the tools that have helped them to succeed.

We will show you that life without the “wine witch” is actually pretty amazing, how we all thought we were losing something, but what we have gained is insurmountable. We will share how our lives transformed, skin began to glow, sleep became deep and relaxing, bodies became healthy, relationships flourished, careers progressed, and our minds were at peace. WE will show you that you deserve the chance to be happy and free and turn what may seem impossible into possible.

Listen along and join me in making your catchphrase “I don’t drink”.

About your host

Profile picture for VICTORIA Banat

VICTORIA Banat