Tribe Sober - inspiring an alcohol free life!

Sobriety…as a Political Tool with Tribe member David

My guest today is Tribe Member David Jacobs – David did our Dry January Challenge, came to one of our Bootcamps and has been alcohol free ever since
In this episode:-
David began drinking at university and went on to experience cycles of moderation alternating with binge drinking.
He turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism during stressful periods
Although he recognized the negative impact that alcohol was having on his physical health and mental health he didn’t know how to make a change
Davids wake up call came when he was
David's welcome call came when he was diagnosed with diabetes – that’s when he knew he had to make a change… 
So he participated in our dry January challenge in 2023, which led him to a his eventual decision to quit drinking.
As he heads towards his second Soberversary I asked David for some of the benefits he has experienced:-
He’s gained mental clarity and has been able to reassess his life choices.
Along with the clarity of thought he found the courage to make significant career changes, leading to starting a new business.
He reduced his fast food intake which led to weight loss and a significant improvement in his glucose scores within 3 months
We discussed the importance of educating young people about the harm that alcohol can cause
I loved Davids take on sobriety as a form of decolonization and activism – an angle he used to get young people to see alcohol in a different way
David's tip to anyone planning to quit drinking is to remember that the easiest drink to refuse is the first one!
So if you’d like to connect with David and our other awesome members then to go tribesober.com/join our tribe
Did you know that 40% of Tribe Sober members are now alcohol free? – people like David
They stick around because they love the community and they enjoy helping new members to discover the magic of alcohol free living
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).
 

9 signs of dependence...and how to Break Free from Booze!

On this weeks solo episode I talk about our Breaking Free program which we run four 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
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 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 to hear your story and give you some personal guidance
A 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…. 
Both 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.
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).
 

A Symphony of Sobriety with Professor Karla

My guest today is Professor Karla Kaun – who works at the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University.
Karla has been running a lab which studies neural and molecular mechanisms of addiction since 2013.
In this episode:-
Karla’s research is around how alcohol and drugs influence our natural reward mechanisms.
She explained how they will overwhelm natural reward pathways, causing intolerable cravings and reduced impulse control.
Addiction is a disorder where brain circuits work differently, prioritizing reward-seeking despite negative consequences.
As many of us who became dependent on alcohol discovered addiction forms slowly and only with repeated use
Of course different individuals have varied timelines and susceptibility to addiction.
Many of our Tribe used alcohol socially in their twenties and thirties and then used it to manage stress as they got older
Mindset in Recovery:
We agreed that overcoming addiction requires a mindset change and viewing life differently.
We are big on mindset here at Tribe Sober – we help our members to realise that they don’t have a drinking problem so much as an opportunity to change their lives for the better
If you’re ready to embrace this opportunity then just to ts.com and join our tribe
Another mindset shift our members get is the realisation that they have gained so much in sobriety…and lost very little by quitting alcohol
Just hangovers, anxiety and exhaustion!
So Karla explained that a growth mindset and seeing setbacks as learning opportunities are crucial.
That’s why we give people a 66 day tracker for our Challenge…we don’t ask them to be perfect, we ask them to be curious… how many alcohol free days can they manage out of 66?
This will bring about positive change through step-by-step goals
Karla explained how addiction is a disorder of memory, with sensory memories such as holding a glass can trigger cravings.
We talked about blackouts which will affect memory circuits and neuron communication.
When I learned that my blackouts were preventing the formation of new memories I realised I had to quit
Long-term alcohol use causes lasting changes in the brain,
Drinking rewires our brain but we due to the plasticity of our brains we can recover
Rather than aiming to go back to exactly how we were before we can rewire our brains a bit differently in recovery
I loved Karla’s orchestra analogy – imagining our brain orchestra to be out of tune when we are in active addiction but then when we quit the orchestra can begin to function again
Perhaps it won’t play exactly the same music as before we started drinking but it can create a new (and maybe even more beautiful) symphony in sobriety and of course
Lifestyle changes, diet, sleep, and exercise can aid in brain plasticity and recovery.
More info
Subscription membership for Tribe Sober 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 today          Read 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 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 and Instagram 
You can join our private Facebook group HERE
How to leave an rating/review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS device)
1. Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
2. Choose "Search" from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (i.e., "Recover Like A Mother") into the search field.
3. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
4. Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
5. 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).

Smart People Ditch the Booze...at 40! with Dupe Witherick

My guest today is author and Sober Coach Dupe Witherick who specialises in mindset, manifestation and human design.
In this episode:-
Dupe began drinking more when she got to university.
Her drinking continued to ramp up when she began working as a management consultant
She worked in the City of London where the work-hard, play-hard culture prevailed
After having her daughter, Dupe joined the mommy juice culture.
We discussed the normalization of drinking to cope with parenting
Dupe was smart enough to notice at the age of 40 that alcohol was not really serving her…
She realized drinking had become a habit rather than enjoyment.
She stopped drinking in November 2020 initially for a 21-day challenge but was so blown away by the benefits of alcohol free living she carried on..
Her Top 3 Benefits were:-
 Improved physical health, such as running and yoga.
 Enhanced clarity, bravery, and sense of purpose.
 Greater appreciation for nature & everyday pleasures.
Dupe's increased clarity led her to question her corporate career and she decided to train as a coach.
She has now transitioned from her corporate role to a coach.
Specializing in alcohol-free well-being and transformational coaching.
During the conversation we heard how Dupe’s life changed when she ditched the booze…
She got fitter, started to enjoy everyday pleasures again and achieved the mental clarity to see that it was time for a complete career change
She also had the courage to leave her corporate job and work independently as a coachj
It all started with a 21 day Challenge
You heard her encouraging people to take a break from alcohol to assess what impact it’s really having on your life..
Dupe has written a book called "A Cocktail of Clarity," to encourage to explore alcohol-free living.
She has her own podcast which is called Thrive Alcohol Free and her website is thrivealcoholfree.com
More info
Subscription membership for Tribe Sober 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 today          Read 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 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 and Instagram 
You can join our private Facebook group HERE
How to leave an rating/review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS device)
1. Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
2. Choose "Search" from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (i.e., "Recover Like A Mother") into the search field.
3. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
4. Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
5. 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).

How a 66 day Challenge changed my life...with Nicole Klassen

My guest today is the fabulous Nicole Klassen who did our very first 66 day challenge back in 2018 and as a result wrote here stunning blog called 66 Days of Feelings
In this episode:-
Nicole knew that she was on a slippery slope when she realized that she actually preferred to drink alone rather than being with other people. 
So although her drinking started as a social thing, as she got older she just wanted to focus on her wine rather than the other people.
She told us how emotional she felt in her early days of sobriety. She spent lots of time crying. Even cooking shows on TV would make her cry! 
When we've been numbing ourselves for years with booze, I think we have to be prepared for this, and get journaling. That's what Nicole did to process her emotions, and it led to her 66  Days of Feelings blog.
That blog was actually the longest thing that she'd written for ages, and she felt that she was finding her voice again.
She became a really good observer of her own behaviour. 
Although Nicole found the physical detox part at the beginning of her sobriety quite tough, gradually the benefits clicked in, and she just loved the way that she lost her puffiness and then went on to lose 10 kgs.
The challenge marked such a big turnaround for Nicole, a really big shift, as she realized that all of her feelings, whether they were good or bad were necessary. 
She also realized that behavior is triggered by a feeling. Which in turn is triggered by a story from your past.  Since she stopped drinking, Nicole has become much more consistent.
She's more productive in her work, and she's busy developing a much better relationship with her body. 
We talked about the feminization of alcohol, and the way brands target women.  Nicole has a marketing background, and she's seen how this works from the inside.
The trick for us all is to see through these campaigns, see through the BS, and then we are free from their influence.
Nicole has been thriving in her sobriety for the last 5 years..ever since doing the 66 day Challenge
We agreed that anyone who is even slightly concerned about their drinking should take a break from alcohol to check their dependence 
If you are drinking more than the low risk limits of one and a half bottles of wine a week then it’s really important to take a break now and again – to let your body recover
To sign up for the Challenge just go to tribesober.com and you’ll #Sober66 on the homepage
More info
Subscription membership for Tribe Sober 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 today          Read 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 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 and Instagram 
You can join our private Facebook group HERE
How to leave an rating/review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS device)
1. Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
2. Choose "Search" from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (i.e., "Recover Like A Mother") into the search field.
3. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
4. Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
5. 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).

Tackling Sobriety...in a 66 day Challenge with Kai

In todays episode I’m chatting to Kai from Switzerland signed up for our very first 66 day Challenge back in 2018 and it changed his life.
He's 6 years sober now!
in this episode:- 
Kai read about us in his in flight magazine when he was on holiday in South Africa several years ago.  He took a photo on his phone, and he left it there for a couple of years.  He didn't contact us, but the seed was sown, and when he heard about our 66 day Challenge, he decided to give it a go.
The fact that it was autumn rather than spring in Europe.  He realized that was the 66 day challenge and he was ready for it. He went online to check the science behind those 66 days and he became pretty convinced that it could make a difference.  Now what's really interesting about Kai's story is that he was only planning to do the challenge.
Do you remember how he said that he loved challenges? He had absolutely no intention of giving up drinking for good. But as he went through his 66 days, he noticed some little shifts happening.  he was quite vocal on our WhatsApp group. We loved, the chats that he gave us. He told us lots of, anecdotes about his evenings with his father in law, who was horrified that he wasn't drinking the fine wine.
He told us stories about his days with business colleagues, and how they were pretty amazed as well.  Apart from sharing his stories on there, he noticed that some people were really struggling. And he decided that, he didn't really ever want to be like that. And he heard other people on the WhatsApp group saying that they felt great, and they were going to give up drinking forever.
Now, that shocked him and inspired him at the same time. And the third thing that I noted was that Kai's children played a big role in his journey. Do you remember his son told him that, in fact, he hated the way that his dad smelt of alcohol sometimes when he came to kiss him goodnight? And his daughter saying that sometimes he just laughed.
You can always rely on children to tell you how it is, can't you? But those kids, they were things that they were actually much too kind to say to him, when he was drinking. But they resonated as things that our children tell us always do.  Now when Kai reached his 66 days, he started setting milestones.
First it was 100 days. And then his daughter challenged him to a whole year.  Milestones are really important. We always try and avoid the "f" word, the forever word, because we just feel it's too daunting. When we finish the workshops, we say to people just, try and get through 66 days because then your habits will change.
We don't say to them, try never to drink again, because it's just too much. And even if that's what they want to do eventually, they have to do it in stages.  And another advantage of milestones is that every time you hit one, you get a dopamine hit, and that gives you the energy and the enthusiasm to carry on to the next milestone.
Kai enjoyed his journey to sobriety, and he noticed some significant benefits.  As a business leader he's influenced many of his colleagues and he's an amazing role model for his children. 
More info
Subscription membership for Tribe Sober 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 today          Read 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 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 and Instagram 
You can join our private Facebook group HERE
How to leave an rating/review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS device)
1. Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
2. Choose "Search" from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (i.e., "Recover Like A Mother") into the search field.
3. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
4. Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
5. 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).
 

My Secret Sobriety Weapon... with Christelle

This week's guest is Tribe member Christelle who did our #Sober66 Challenge 5 years ago and has been thriving in her alcohol free lifestyle ever since...
in this episode:-
Christelle realized that her drinking habits were problematic and knew she would have to make a changeShe knew that drinking a bottle of wine a night was damaging her health
A particular worry was her heart rate which was in the high 80’s
Christelle had signed up for our Dry January Challenge but she only lasted 30 minutes – rather than the 30 days of the Challenge
Although she had not stuck at Dry January she decided to have a another try… at our 66 day Sober Spring Challenge
It was hearing me on the radio tasting some alcohol free wines that gave her a light bulb moment…
For Christelle her evening wine was a ritual…a ritual which had become a dependence due to the addictive nature of alcohol
But if she could keep the ritual and change the ingredient by drinking alcohol free wine then it should be easier…
To her relief Christelle met other people with a similar problem in the Challenge Community
She connected regularly on the Challenge Whatsapp group and learned a lot
 As early as Day 8 of the Challenge she realized she could live without wine so long as she had the  alcohol-free wine.
So if you haven’t yet discovered alcohol free wine then do check it out – it could be a gamechanger for you just as it was for Christelle
Her Benefits of Sobriety include:  - Better looks (reduced puffiness and clearer skin).  - Better sleep quality.  - Reduced heart rate from 84 to low 60s – and probably most importantly of all…  - Increased self-esteem and happiness.
We agreed that for anyone who is even slightly concerned about their drinking should take a break from alcohol to check their dependence
Doing our #Sober66 Challenge will provide online and community support 
To sign up for #Sober66 just go to tribesober.com and you'll see it on the homepage
More info
Subscription membership for Tribe Sober 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 today          Read 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 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 and Instagram 
You can join our private Facebook group HERE
How to leave an rating/review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS device)
1. Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
2. Choose "Search" from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (i.e., "Recover Like A Mother") into the search field.
3. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
4. Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
5. 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).
 

Ageing Disgracefully in Sobriety with Merleen

Tribe Member Merleen talks about how Tribe Sober's 66 day Challenge kickstarted her journey to sobriety
Doing a 66 day Challenge takes care of two big things that we worry about when want to quit drinking…First of all we worry about what other people will say…
That’s an easy one with a Challenge – say you’re on a health kick so you’re taking a break from drinking…
The second thing that people worry about is the F word…the F word stands for
Failure – what if I can’t do this
Frever – – how on earth I am going to stop drinking Forever…
Well we don’t use either of those words at Tribe Sober
We don’t say Failure because we either succeed or we learn….
For the 66 day Challenge you get a tracker and we say to you just see how many alcohol free days you can get out of 66…
We never say Forever at Tribe Sober…
We believe you need to do this in stages…
66 days – then the odds are that you feel so great you want to keep going … to 100 days
Sign up – get a tracker – how many days can you manage
Sign up for the Challenge by going to tribesober.com homepage – just click on the #Sober66 graphic
You’ll get a tracker, a daily email with tips, tools and inspiration and of course you’ll get to connect with others who are doing the Challenge.
That’s exactly what todays guest Merleen did – and now she’s 5 years sober…
In this episode:-
Merleen was the child of an alcoholic father
She was actually a member of Alateen although her father never attended AA and in fact he died shortly after being committed to a rehab facility.
Her drinking career started relatively late in life as of course she was well aware of the dangers.
However by her forties she was self medicating the stress she was experiencing in her career in the police force.
Merleen was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD,
Despite recognizing the dangers, she often mixed medication with alcohol, worsening her condition.
Her drinking increased significantly during her time working in Somalia
Merlene experienced several traumatic events, including a severe bike accident, which led to periods of blackout drinking.
She attempted suicide and was hospitalized, which became a turning point in her life.
In 2019, Merlene decided to quit drinking, initially intending to do so for only 66 days.
At the end of her Challenge she joined Tribe Sober which enabled her to embrace a permanent alcohol free lifestyle
She has experienced so many benefits - including better emotional health, rekindling her love for dancing, and forming meaningful connections within the sobriety community.
She started coaching in order to help others - she focuses on sobriety, menopause, and aging gracefully.
Merlene offers a 21-day detox and purification program, including coaching sessions and dietary guidance.
To anyone wanting to get started on this journey she emphasizes the importance of connection and support in achieving and maintaining sobriety.
For more info about Merleen go to her Facebook Page - LOL Merleen
More info
Subscription membership for Tribe Sober 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 today          Read 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 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 and Instagram 
You can join our private Facebook group HERE
How to leave an rating/review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS device)
1. Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
2. Choose "Search" from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (i.e., "Recover Like A Mother") into the search field.
3. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
4. Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
5. 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).
 

My Sober Wedding with Laura Robinson

My guest today is Researcher Laura Robinson from Australia – she’s a University Lecturer and Researcher who wants to involve us in some fascinating research that she’s doing... into women and drinking
She’s just approaching the end of her first year of sobriety so she’s sharing her own story and asking for your help with the survey that she’s conducting
In this episode:-
As a Researcher and senior lecturer  Laura focuses on applied psychology
Her current research is around drug and alcohol use, particularly women's experiences and their relationship withalcohol.
Laura shared her own drinking story with us:-
She began drinking at 18, primarily in social settings and like many of us her social drinking gradually evolved into more of a coping mechanism after having children.
She became increasingly concerned about her drinking habits over the years.
Although she did take some breaks from alcohol she struggled to moderate
Laura’s decision to quit was prompted by health concerns, the desire to set an example for her children, and a growing awareness of alcohol's impact on her life.
She listened to sobriety podcasts and engaged with online resources and communities,
Even though she had not even completed her first alcohol free year she decided to have a sober wedding 
Her goal was to maintain clear memories and nourish the emotional connection with her guests
She drank alcohol free champagne and provided alcohol-free options for her guests
Laura thoroughly enjoyed her wedding and has beautiful memories of the day
Laura took me through the Benefits of Sobriety that she’s experienced:-
  - Significant reduction in feelings of shame and increased self-trust.
  - Improved physical health, including reduced bloating and better skin.
  - Enhanced emotional well-being and clearer memories of significant events – such as her wedding day!
Laura’s advice for those struggling with alcohol includes:-
  - connecting with online communities and educational resources.
  - She also emphasized the importance of understanding the impact of alcohol on the brain and separating personal worth from alcohol dependence.
  - Suggests treating sobriety as a research project to stay engaged and motivated.
In her Work on Women and Alcohol Laura has noticed the under-representation of women and the options they take to get sober.
She has been focusing on understanding and addressing the unique challenges women face regarding alcohol use.
Laura’s aim for her research is to contribute to the development of more tailored and accessible treatment options for women.
As part of her research she is conducting a study on the impact of Sobriety podcasts and online communities on alcohol use and mental health.
She is inviting us all to participate in an online survey to gather data and build an evidence base for the effectiveness of these resources.
This anonymous survey has ethics approval, and the link is https://tinyurl.com/SoberPodcasts
More info
Subscription membership for Tribe Sober 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 today          Read 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 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 and Instagram 
You can join our private Facebook group HERE
How to leave an rating/review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS device)
1. Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
2. Choose "Search" from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (i.e., "Recover Like A Mother") into the search field.
3. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
4. Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
5. 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).

Finding Strength in Sobriety with Colette

My guest today is Colette Safhill who is the founder of Myth Drinks who shares her own story and gives us an insight into her alcohol free drinks company.
in this episode:-
Colette's mother was an alcoholic so she was well aware of the dangers of alcohol.
She started drinking heavily in her early 20s, influenced by her challenging circumstancesThe combination of a difficult childhood, an alcoholic mother, a stormy first marriage, and the challenges of raising a colicky baby resulted in five years of heavy drinking
Colette accepted that she had lost control after a series of personal setbacks and a car crash.
Her rock bottom resulted in her being sectioned under the Mental Health Act and undergoing a medical detox.
She stayed under the care of a rehab facility for over a year, which marked the beginning of her long-term sobriety.
Although Colette has been sober for an impressive 24 years she still attends AA meetings and values the sense of community.
Colette and I agreed that we have to “find our people” for this recovery journey – whether its AA, Tribe Sober or another group – try several communities until you feel you are in a safe space and can be honest and vulnerable with the other members.
Colette has navigated the challenges of cancer treatment, remarriage, and raising children while maintaining her sobriety.
She highlighted the need for a balanced life with proactive choices and meaningful relationships.
Colette has created Myth Drinks to provide an alternative for people who don’t drink or who want an alcohol free alternative now and again
She developed a range of alcohol-free drinks, including a coconut rum substitute and ready-to-drink canned cocktails - her drinks are gluten-free, vegan, and low-calorie.
Her website is mythdrinks.co.uk so you can go and check out her products on there 
More info
Subscription membership for Tribe Sober 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 today          Read 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 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 and Instagram 
You can join our private Facebook group HERE
How to leave an rating/review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS device)
1. Open the Podcasts app. EASY.
2. Choose "Search" from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (i.e., "Recover Like A Mother") into the search field.
3. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes).
4. Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews.
5. 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).