Tribe Sober - inspiring an alcohol free life!

Can you Break Free from Alcohol...Panel Discussion

On last weeks podcast I talked you through the Breaking Free course in detail so do have a listen if you missed it
I recently hosted a discussion on Zoom with four Breaking Free graduates which will give you a real insight into the results that people are getting…
You’ll hear from Grania and Helen who did the course last year and then you’ll hear from Lynne and Lori who have just completed the latest program…
On the podcast you'll hear the soundtrack from that discussion
So if you want to be sure of a place on the next BF program which kicks off on 31st January then please sign up today as places are filling up fast
You can sign up for Breaking Free here
More Info
Tribe Sober membership – you can join up HERE.
To access our website, click HERE.
If you would like a free copy of our “Annual Tracker” or our e-book 66 Days to Sobriety, please email janet@tribesober.com.
If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community, just email janet@tribesober.com.
 
Episode Sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program.  If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up todayRead more about our program and subscribe HERE
Help us to Spread the Word!
We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help.  Please subscribe and share.
If you enjoyed the podcast, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple podcasts.
Take a screenshot of your review, and DM it to Tribe Sober’s Instagram page – see PS below for instructions. We’ll send you something special to say thank you!
We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.
You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
You can join our private Facebook group HERE.
PS: How to Leave a Rating/Review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS Device)
Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
Choose “Search” from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (e.g. Recover Like a Mother) into the search field.
Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
Click Write a Review underneath the displayed reviews from other listeners. You’ll then have the option to rate the show on a 5-star scale and write a review (you can rate without writing too but it’s always good to read your experience).
 

Break Free from Alcohol...in 3 months

On this weeks solo episode I talk about our 3-month Breaking Free program which we run just three times a year. 
Registration for the current program is open   - more info on tribesober.com
We limit each Breaking Free group to 20 so you’ll always get personal attention
In this episode:-
I talk about the warning signs of alcohol dependence as well as the benefits of an alcohol free lifestyle
The Breaking Free program has four components…
Four pieces of a puzzle that come together to create a transformation…
The first piece of the puzzle is Community Support so we connect you with the other people on the Breaking Free program
 We put you in a chatgroup with where you’ll also find some TS team members to answer any questions you may have
You'll also be invited to several Zoom meetings every week
The second piece is our 4 hour Masterclass – a group session which we hold via Zoom.  Another opportunity to get to know the other people on the program as everyone will share their story at the beginning of the session.  By the end of the Masterclass you’ll understand:-
The importance of a mindset change and the damage alcohol does to our health
We’ll be sharing our tried and tested sobriety toolkit and you’ll end the session feeling motivated and excited about the changes ahead.
While the Masterclass will give you an overview of the Tribe Sober approach to thriving in sobriety the online course will enable you to dive deeper at your own pace.  You’ll get all the theory and training you need to overturn your limiting beliefs around alcohol which is the key….
Just as we’ve been programmed into thinking that alcohol is an essential part of our daily lives our online program will de-program you and enable you to understand that you will be happier and healthier without it!
The third piece is our online course which includes videos, podcasts, articles and book recommendations so you’ll be able to throw the book at your sobriety – you’ll be able to treat it as a 3-month project that will take a deep dive into psychology, biology and neuroscience - a project that will change the trajectory of your future.
The fourth part of the puzzle is the personal support. 
You’ll have a 1.2.1 Zoom call with Monica who will explain how everything work and help you with any tech issues
Mid-way through the 3 month program you'll have a session with Coach Darren to review learnings so far
A final session with our Coach Lynette who will discuss how you are applying the theory of the Breaking Free program to your daily life
So that’s the four pieces of our Breaking Free puzzle, four pieces that will come together to create an alcohol free lifestyle that you love..
Apart from creating a program that will get results we’ve created a program that is flexible and will fit in with your busy lives…. 
All of the 1.2.1’s can be scheduled to suit your convenience, the online course can be worked through at your own pace so the only timeslot you need to fit in is the four hour Masterclass. (we can send you a recording if  you can't make it)
While we’re on the subject of time that’s one of the unexpected benefits of sobriety….. when we no longer spend time drinking and recovering from the drinking we find ourselves with extra time on our hands….
As well as the energy to do something constructive with that time!
Registration for the current Breaking Free program is open - more info on tribesober.com
More Info
Tribe Sober membership – you can join up HERE.
To access our website, click HERE.
If you would like a free copy of our “Annual Tracker” or our e-book 66 Days to Sobriety, please email janet@tribesober.com.
If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community, just email janet@tribesober.com.
 
Episode Sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program.  If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up todayRead more about our program and subscribe HERE
Help us to Spread the Word!
We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help.  Please subscribe and share.
If you enjoyed the podcast, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple podcasts.
Take a screenshot of your review, and DM it to Tribe Sober’s Instagram page – see PS below for instructions. We’ll send you something special to say thank you!
We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.
You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
You can join our private Facebook group HERE.
PS: How to Leave a Rating/Review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS Device)
Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
Choose “Search” from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (e.g. Recover Like a Mother) into the search field.
Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
Click Write a Review underneath the displayed reviews from other listeners. You’ll then have the option to rate the show on a 5-star scale and write a review (you can rate without writing too but it’s always good to read your experience).
 

Ditch the Booze...and Burn Your Body Fat!

My guest this week is James Swanwick, an Australian-American investor and entrepreneur He is the creator of the Alcohol Free Lifestyle, which helps people change their relationship with alcohol
In this episode:-
James was a moderate drinker, but after 20 years of consistent drinking, he realized the negative effect on his health and stopped for what was supposed to be a 30-day experiment. That was 13 years ago and he’s been alcohol free ever since!
Like many of us James hesitated to quit due to societal conditioning – he associated alcohol with socializing and fun and feared being perceived as dull or boring without alcohol. And indeed…
There was some Social Awkwardness for a while - navigating social situations without alcohol felt awkward and he shared a story of pretending to drink alcohol when on a date – this strategy proved to be a mistake when his date discovered he had lied!  
In spite of the tricky start James was soon embracing his alcohol-free lifestyle openly.
We discussed the strong influence of peer pressure and the need for a supportive tribe when quitting alcohol.
We are both seeing a societal shift as people acknowledge the health risks of drinking alcohol – which is heading for a cigarette moment.
Although drinking alcohol before bedtime may help initially with falling asleep but compromises the quality of sleep, leading to irritability, fatigue, and other negative effects on health.
Alcohol's Effects on Sleep and Health:  Alcohol consumption can compromise sleep quality, metabolism, and overall health. It can disrupt the body's natural processes, leading to weight gain, reduced productivity, and increased cravings for unhealthy foods.
James shared some Benefits of his alcohol-free lifestyle which included improved physical health, mental clarity, productivity, and financial success. I
I asked him for his advice for anyone who is struggling to get started on this journey: He suggested starting with a commitment to at least 30 days of sobriety as an experiment, but most importantly be open to extending it to 90 days or longer.
We agreed on the importance of Avoiding the stop-and-start cycle and focussing on the long-term benefits of sobriety.
Overcoming cultural conditioning and resistance may feel challenging, but taking action building an alcohol free lifestyle will lead to transformative results and a better quality of life
You can contact James Swanwick via his website alcoholfreelifestyle.com
More Info
 
Tribe Sober subscription membership – you can join up HERE.
To access our website, click HERE.
If you would like a free copy of our “Annual Tracker” or our e-book 66 Days to Sobriety, please email janet@tribesober.com.
If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community, just email janet@tribesober.com.
to join our mailing list click HERE 
 
Episode Sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program.  If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up todayRead more about our program and subscribe HERE
Help us to Spread the Word!
We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help.  Please subscribe and share.
If you enjoyed the podcast, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple podcasts.
Take a screenshot of your review, and DM it to Tribe Sober’s Instagram page – see PS below for instructions. We’ll send you something special to say thank you!
We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.
You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
You can join our private Facebook group HERE.
PS: How to Leave a Rating/Review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS Device)
Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
Choose “Search” from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (e.g. Recover Like a Mother) into the search field.
Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
Click Write a Review underneath the displayed reviews from other listeners. You’ll then have the option to rate the show on a 5-star scale and write a review (you can rate without writing too but it’s always good to read your experience).
 

You’re Not Waiting for Time — You’re Waiting for Yourself

In this New Year episode, Lynette records from a small guesthouse in Evander, a dusty coal-mining town in South Africa — a place marked by both decay and unexpected beauty.
Through a moving real-life encounter, she reflects on how we are all dealt a hand of cards in life, and how joy, purpose, and meaning are not found in better circumstances, but in how we meet the life we have.
This episode gently explores the illusion of “readiness,” drawing on the work of Dr. Julia di Gangi, to show why change is not about more time, but about emotional power, identity, and presence.
Using the poetic metaphors of the snake shedding its skin and the horse moving forward with aligned energy, Lynette invites listeners to step into the now — not by forcing change, but by listening to the quiet inner yes.
This is a conversation about emotional sobriety, relationships with self and others, and creating a life of vibrancy and quiet joy — right where you are.
In This Episode, We Explore:
How life’s “hand of cards” doesn’t determine our joy — how we play it does
Creating heaven or hell through how we meet our circumstances
Why waiting to feel “ready” keeps us stuck
Emotional power vs. time and overthinking
The snake as a symbol of shedding old survival patterns
The horse as a symbol of presence, aligned movement, and inner power
Sobriety as a doorway, not a destination
Emotional sobriety and learning to meet life on life’s terms
Relationships with self, others, and life itself
Trusting the quiet yes instead of forcing the how
Path to Purpose
Path to Purpose is for people who are sober and asking: now what?
 
It’s about learning how to take your hand of cards and create a life of vibrancy, connection, and joy — meeting life on life’s terms without numbing, bracing, or waiting for things to be different.
The next intake opens in February.
If you feel a quiet yes, you don’t need to work out the how.
Path to Purpose is the what.
📩 Email Lynette: lynette@llrcoaching.com
 

14 TIPS FOR A DRY JANUARY!

This week I'm doing a solo episode - 10 reasons to do an alcohol free January - and 14 tips to get you through.
In This Episode
REASONS TO DO AN ALCOHOL FREE JANUARY
You've got a great "reason" to not be drinking when people ask!
A dry month is a great way to test your dependency - if you can't get through a month without booze then you need to make some changes
Alcohol is so toxic that just taking a month off will have significant health benefits
Alcohol is linked to liver disease and 7 different types of cancer - 1 glass of wine will raise your risk of breast cancer by 15%
Alcohol will weaken our immune systems - and put us more at risk of becoming infected with Covid
20% of regular drinkers will become dependent over the years - drinking more than a bottle and a half of wine a week may damage your health
A month off alcohol will reduce your anxiety, freshen up your looks, help you lose weight and enable you to get some good quality sleep
Making a donation to our January fundraiser will give you a dopamine hit (giving makes you feel good) and enable you to receive online and community support for 31 days - you can sign up here
TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH
Shake up your daily routine and exercise every day
Be ready to cope with your emotions - if you've been numbing your feelings with alcohol they will come to the surface
Use a journal to track your progress, note your triggers and process your emotions
Listen to music, make a soundtrack for your January Challenge - a real mood changer
Have your go-to drinks -drinknil.co.za are offering 10% discount on all their alcohol free drinks for people doing our Challenge
Find your tribe - its hard to do this alone - check out our membership program here
Please donate to our Earthchild Fundraiser - and get 30 days of community and online support - sign up link is here
MORE INFO
To access our website click here
Please subscribe and share this podcast so we can reach more people who need our help.
Thank you

Undefended Joy

Undefended Joy
Choosing Willingness, Acceptance, and Faith This Holiday Season
The holiday season can be joyful — and it can also be triggering. Family dynamics, social gatherings, unmet expectations, and old habits often leave us feeling tense, reactive, and searching for relief.
In this episode, Lynette explores a powerful and compassionate practice she calls Undefended Joy — a way of meeting life without armour, self-protection, or resistance.
Drawing on teachings from Dr. Julia DiGangi and real-life experiences, Lynette shares how willingness, acceptance, and faith can gently replace the need to escape with alcohol or other numbing behaviours.
This episode is not about forcing happiness or “getting it right.”
It’s about softening, staying present, and discovering that joy becomes available when we stop fighting reality.
In this episode, you’ll explore:
Why so many of us drink or overdo things in search of relief
The difference between being undefended and being defenseless
How willingness creates emotional resilience and mental fitness
Why the opposite of certainty is faith
How accepting difference (in ourselves and others) reduces conflict
A simple question to ask when you feel triggered
Why joy is not something to chase — but something that emerges when fear loosens its grip
Lynette also shares a gentle invitation to support yourself through the festive season with Tribe Sober’s Festive Open House, offering free access to community support, inspiration, and live sessions.
A question to reflect on:
What would it look like to meet this moment — just as it is — undefended and willing?
 
🎄 Tribe Sober Festive Open House
For the first time ever, Tribe Sober is opening its doors for a Festive Open House from 21 December to 2 January.
It’s completely free and gives you a chance to sample:
Daily inspiration
Community support
Live Zoom sessions
Practical tools for staying sober and grounded over the holidays
👉 Visit tribesober.com, sign up for monthly membership, and use the coupon code OpenHouse12
If you need help, you can also email mon@tribesober.com
 

When your Partner Drinks... Couples Therapist Zach Brittle

My guest this week is  couples therapist Zach Brittle who is based in Seattle 
I was able to pick his brain about that very common question we hear from some of our members –
How can I quit when my partner drinks?
 
In this episode:-
Zach's drinking escalated during COVID lockdown—he felt depressed and family relationships were under strain.
He reached that point that many of us get to – his “not this" moment as we call it in Tribe Sober
He approached a sober friend, Dave, who became his sponsor and helped him to work the 12 steps
He only attended a few in-person AA meetings but actually found a South African online meeting that became his home group – so he has a soft spot for us here in SA
He quit alcohol quickly and without too much trouble, but deeper emotional recovery took much longer.
Zach stressed the difference between quitting drinking and being sober.
His marriage had involved heavy shared drinking and his wife had been his drinking buddy
But after he got sober, his wife began to drink more and had her own recovery journey to tackle
Their 15-year-old daughter also “spun out” as the family system recalibrated
Family members are now all healthy and connected
I loved Zach's analogy as a family being like a child mobile – hold one piece steady and the other pieces wobble – how true
Zach had some great advice for partners struggling with a drinker who won’t change:
Take care of yourself first — get grounded and stable.
Build your “healthy place” and invite your partner into it.
You can’t decide their behaviour, but you can decide what works for you.
Early sobriety is fragile — ignore comments like “you’re boring.” Focus on your own survival.
Zach's Top Benefits of Sobriety
Feels like an adult for the first time in his life.
Sleep transformed — falls asleep naturally, sleeps through, wakes refreshed.
Clear mind & emotional stability — no hedging, hiding, or dodging.
Better marriage — calmer, more intimate, more predictable.
Massive financial savings — used to spend ~$12k/year on bar tabs.
Advice for Anyone Struggling
Ask yourself: “Am I ready?”
If yes, do the work: find community, a sponsor, a meeting, a book, a mentor.
The work isn’t quitting alcohol — it’s understanding yourself and building emotional sobriety.
Zach’s Podcast & Work
Hosts Marriage Therapy Radio — weekly episodes with real couples.
Has published books and has a new one coming in 2027 on relational recovery.
Works mostly in person in Seattle but does some online work.
Zach Brittle is his website
More Info
 
Tribe Sober subscription membership – you can join up HERE.
To access our website, click HERE.
If you would like a free copy of our “Annual Tracker” or our e-book 66 Days to Sobriety, please email janet@tribesober.com.
If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community, just email janet@tribesober.com.
to join our mailing list click HERE 
 
Episode Sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program.  If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up todayRead more about our program and subscribe HERE
Help us to Spread the Word!
We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help.  Please subscribe and share.
If you enjoyed the podcast, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple podcasts.
Take a screenshot of your review, and DM it to Tribe Sober’s Instagram page – see PS below for instructions. We’ll send you something special to say thank you!
We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.
You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.
You can join our private Facebook group HERE.
PS: How to Leave a Rating/Review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS Device)
Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
Choose “Search” from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (e.g. Recover Like a Mother) into the search field.
Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
Click Write a Review underneath the displayed reviews from other listeners. You’ll then have the option to rate the show on a 5-star scale and write a review (you can rate without writing too but it’s always good to read your experience).
 

Navigating the Holidays Sober

In this episode, Lynette shares a deeply personal story from her early sobriety and offers powerful insights on how to navigate the holiday season alcohol-free. From understanding your emotional triggers to anchoring into your Sage energy, Lynette guides you through practical and heart-centered ways to stay grounded, proud, and connected during a time that can feel overwhelming.
 
You’ll also hear the story of Anna, a woman who created her first joyful alcohol-free holiday through intention, structure, and emotional leadership — a journey that mirrors what’s possible for all of us.
 
Whether this is your first sober Christmas or your tenth, this episode will help you walk into the holiday season with clarity, confidence, and compassion for yourself.
 
🎄 Want more support?
Join Lynette on 10 December at 5pm SA time for a gentle, practical masterclass on navigating the holidays alcohol-free.
Email lynette@llrcoaching.com or mon@tribesober.com for details.

Slender for Life with Dr Ginny

My guest this week is a psychotherapist Dr Ginny who has had her own struggles with alcohol and food addiction.
Dr Ginny had a long history of drinking - since college
Like many of us she was “High-functioning” — working as a director for a non profit
Drinking + emotional eating became her escape
Hit crisis point at 55: inflammation, pre-diabetic, struggling to walk
Realised she was heading toward chronic illness — and possibly a nursing home
🍷 Drinking & Denial
Told herself it was “self-care”
Rationalised with rules (“only weekends”, “never a bottle... then more”)
Depended on wine to soothe stress, numb emotions
Felt ashamed, trapped, out of alignment with her values
Emotional crash cycle: regret → resolve → repeat
“She would say every morning, ‘I won’t do it tonight,’ and by the end of the day I wanted it again.”
💡 Turning Point
Came when she worked in a nursing-home and many patients her age
Realised alcohol + ultra-processed food = metabolic decline
Fear of losing mobility + independence
Began exploring science-based nutrition and alcohol-free living
Joined Annie Grace’s work early & became a coach
🥗 Healing Through Nutrition
Quit drinking and ultra-processed foods together
Focus on abundant, nutritious whole foods
Massive improvement in:
Inflammation
Sleep
Weight (lost 60 lbs naturally)
Pre-diabetes reversed
Mental clarity + emotional calm
📚 Her Program
Slender for Good
Science-based nutrition & mindset work
Focus on adding nourishment, not restriction
Works especially well for women in midlife & recovery
Book: Slender for Good After 50
🌐 Where to Find Her
Website: slenderforgood.com
Works with clients worldwide via Zoom
If Dr Ginny inspired you to avoid that metabolic decline she spoke of then why not buy her book “Slender for Good” and sign up for a Tribe Sober membership.
On December 1st we open our Annual Fundraiser for Earthchild –  make a small donation to this very good cause and in exchange you’ll get a month of support.
Just go to tribesober.com and click on the Earthchild Banner…
 

Episode 6 : Your new chapter begins

🦋 Episode 6 — Becoming the Butterfly
In this final episode of the Butterfly Series, we close the loop on your transformation journey — from your Not This moment all the way to stepping into the new chapter of your life.
This episode is all about decisions:
How to make them, how to stop living in the “miserable maybe,” and how to choose your future self with clarity and power.
In this episode:
✨ The final stage of metamorphosis — choosing to fly
✨ Decisions ahead of time (especially for the holiday season)
✨ What “decision debt” is and how it keeps you stuck
✨ A simple 2-step tool to evaluate any decision
✨ Why sobriety is one big decision supported by many small ones
✨ How to step into 2026 feeling empowered and intentional
🎧 A Key Reflection From This Episode:
“Indecision is a life thief.
Most people fear making the wrong choice so much
that they make the worst choice of all —
no choice.”
You learn how to remove fear from the driver’s seat
and choose from your future self,
not your past self.
 
Special Invitations
🎄 10 December — Holiday Season Sober Support Call
A live session to help you navigate triggers, social pressure, and emotional landmines during the holidays. For more information email lynette@llrcoaching.com
🚀 Accelerate Your Sobriety — a Tribe Sober Program
Start 2026 feeling clear, strong, and alcohol-free.
Register here: https://www.tribesober.com/accelerate-2/
Work with Me
For private coaching, PQ mentorship, or the Path to Purpose programs:
📩 lynette@llrcoaching.com
 
Music
Intro/Outro: “Remember” by Sutherland
(used with permission)
 
🦋 Closing Note
Thank you for walking the Butterfly Path with me.
This may be the final episode —
but it’s truly just your beginning.
Freedom is your beautiful name.