Tribe Sober - inspiring an alcohol free life!

Break Free from Booze today! - if not now...when?

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 until 30th May  - more info here 
 
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 with me so that I can hear your story and give you some personal guidance
My colleague Sue will catch up with you midway through the course to get a progress report and
Last but not least you can book 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…. 
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.
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 until 30th May - more info 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).
 

Want to Quit Drinking? - 9 Mistakes to Avoid!

NEWSFLASH! - Our Breaking Free Program is open for enrollment until 30th May - get more info here 
 
I'm Janet Gourand, founder of Tribe Sober and I celebrated my 9th Soberversary on 23rd May, 2024!
Most of our Tribe Sober members know my story – how I quit drinking and started Tribe Sober but as we are getting new podcast listeners every week I’m re-releasing my story along with my Goodbye to Alcohol Letter.
But before that I have some fresh content that will be useful to everyone on this journey….
In this episode:-
Common mistakes when we're trying quit drinking
Mistake number 1 — Waiting for rock bottom
I knew I had a problem but I was in denial for years. Convincing myself that I wasn’t that bad. I couldn’t possibly be an alcoholic because I was holding down a responsible job and raising a family. An alcoholic was that homeless man in the park who had lost everything. That wasn’t me!
Mistake number 2 — ModerationI spent a decade stuck in the Moderation Trap. Once I’d learned that the low risk limits of alcohol are just one and a half bottles of wine a week I decided that I would drink within those limits. It was only when I tried (and failed) to do that that I realised just how dependent I had become.
Mistake number 3 — Fearing failure
I almost never got started on this life-changing journey because I believed I would fail. I just couldn’t imagine quitting alcohol, never having a drink again. I knew that I had tried (and failed) to moderate my drinking again and again. Surely it would be even harder to quit completely?
Mistake number 4 — Worrying about other people
Peer pressure is powerful. I was trapped in my drinking because I couldn’t bear to peel away from the herd and be different. As an introvert and a people pleaser I didn’t want to be the centre of attention as I was bombarded with questions about why I wasn’t drinking.Mistake number 5 — Being influenced by marketingAs a teenager I believed that alcohol was cool. Wine became the essential parenting aid as I joined the mommy juice culture. Mid-life challenges needed wine as did juggling a career with family life. Retirement gave me time to relax and drink even more wine!
Mistake number 6 — Waiting for happiness to strike..
I had relied on alcohol to make me feel good for a such a long time that I missed those chemical highs when I stopped. During my first few months of sobriety I didn’t change anything in my life. I just didn’t drink. I expected to feel happy because I was sober. But I didn’t, I felt flat and rather depressed. I learned that I would need a project to keep my happy brain chemicals firing!
Mistake number 7 — Being depressed about quittingI had to quit for health reasons and was horrified at the prospect of an alcohol free life. I imagined that an alcohol free life would be a grey and boring existence. Alcohol had become so entrenched in my life that I had no idea how I would socialise, relax or have fun without it.
Mistake number 8 — Trying to do it alone
I thought there was something wrong with me because I couldn’t be happy with just “one glass” of wine like some of my friends. I tried (and failed) to quit over and over. I was ashamed of my drinking problem and wanted to fix it myself. I didn’t want to reach out for help or join a community.
LEARNING FROM MISTAKES — 8 TIPS!
TIP NUMBER 1: Do it now! Alcohol dependence is like anelevator and it’s only going down. The longer you leave it the worse itwill get so if you’re worried about your drinking then Do it Now!
TIP NUMBER 2: Forget Moderation! If you could moderate you would have done it by now. People who can moderate just do it naturally. They might have a glass of champagne at a wedding but alcohol is not really on their radar.
TIP NUMBER 3: Have your reasons ready Just smile and say “I’m taking a break from the booze because I’ve not been sleeping well” and remember it’s not your responsibility to make other people feel comfortable about their drinking!
TIP NUMBER 4: Change your thinking…about drinking Reflect and question the limiting beliefs you hold about alcohol. Do you really need alcohol to have fun, to relax, to console yourself for a difficult day? Explore new ways to manage these situations.
TIP NUMBER 5: Reconfigure your life! When you quit drinking you can’t just leave everything the same. You’ll need to change your routines and get new interests. New hobbies and a new community will keep you happy and engaged.
TIP NUMBER 6: Get excited! Get excited about this life changing opportunity! You are going to look better, feel better, sleep better and be full of energy. Ditching the booze is the best thing we can do for our health and happiness as we get older.
TIP NUMBER 7: Find your People The joy of connecting with others on this journey is that we realise we are NOT alone. 20% of social drinkers will become dependent over the years. There is such power and relief in sharing our stories with others in a community like tribesober.com
TIP NUMBER 8: Progress not Perfection should be your strategy. Some people have many Day Ones but the important thing is to keep trying. Do it in stages. 30 days, 100 days, 6 months and then a year.
More Info
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
Find out more about our FREE Bootcamps - next one is 20-24th May - more info 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. 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.

Alcohol...and Ageing with Professor Ben Loos

My guest today is Ben Loos, he’s a professor at Stellenbosch University and leads a neuro research group.  His team focuses on neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancers, with a major focus on autophagy
Autophagy is the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells – a process which is essential to good health.
Ben's research is at a particularly exciting stage right now as he is busy developing a device that will enable us to measure our autophagy rate – much as we can measure our resting heart rate or our glucose levels. 
He is CEO of a start up called Phagoflux which will bring this product to market.
Knowing our autophagy rate can make a big difference and will motivate us to strive for a healthy lifestyle  –for example if we see it is too low then we can do something about it – we can do some exercise or we can implement a 12 hour fast.
Of course I asked Ben about what impact alcohol has on the autophagy process as well as other aspects of our health. 
In this episode:-
Health Risks of Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption is linked to various diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration, due to its stress-inducing effects on cells and interference with processes like memory consolidation and sleep.
Effects on Memory and Aging: Alcohol impairs both short-term and long-term memory formation, and chronic consumption accelerates brain aging, increasing susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.
Alcohol Dependence and Blackouts: Regular heavy drinking can lead to alcohol dependence and blackouts, which indicate severe brain impairment and are precursors to brain damage. Particularly dangerous as we get older
Alcohol and Autophagy: Alcohol abuse can impair autophagy due to oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Thinking about our general health: Quitting alcohol leads to significant improvements in health, including liver regeneration, reduced inflammation, and better immune function, emphasizing the importance of avoiding alcohol dependency, especially as one ages.
With an autophagy monitoring device like Phagoflux we could monitor our personal autophagy levels, just like checking our blood pressure or glucose levels. If the levels are high, it's a good sign that our cellular cleaning mechanism is functioning optimally. But if it's low, then interventions like exercise or dietary changes could help boost autophagy and improve cellular health.
It's all about empowering us to take control of our wellness at a cellular level and I think many of us ex drinkers are keen to take action to heal our bodies and brains as much as we can.
Autophagy in Healing: Autophagy plays a vital role in cellular healing by removing damaged components and restoring function.
Autophagy Monitoring Device: Fagovlux aims to measure personal autophagy levels, crucial for understanding aging.
Personalized Autophagy: Understanding one's daily autophagy activity can guide lifestyle choices like diet and exercise.
Exercise and Autophagy: Exercise increases autophagy, contributing to healthy aging and reducing disease risk.
Intermittent Fasting: Fasting triggers autophagy by sensing a lack of amino acids, promoting cellular repair and health.
Of course we already know the basic health rules and we try to stay alcohol free, eat a healthy diet and fast occasionally and exercise regularly.
But how motivating would it be to be able to monitor our autophagy rate and see what impact our hard working is having on our health!
Connect with Ben: Contact Ben through the Stellenbosch University website or the Neuro Research Group website for more information.
www. neuroresearchgroup. com
More Info
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
Find out more about our FREE Bootcamps - next one is 20-24th May - more info 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. 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.
 
 

My Year of NOT getting Sh*tfaced! with Pamela Power

Today’s podcast comes with a bit of a health warning. 
Moderation is not something we recommend here at Tribe Sober – mainly because so many us were trapped in what I call the moderation swamp.
We tried (and failed) over and over again to moderate our alcohol intake – all because we counldn’t imagine life without out gass of wine!
Personally the whole of my 50’s was spent in that battle to moderate… a battle that I never won and it’s only now I’m well and truly out the other side that I can see the reality which is that once we’ve crossed a line into dependence we can never moderate – we can never go back…
We just need to put all that effort we put into moderation into creating a beautiful alcohol free life – a life we don’t want to escape from..
Having said all that I do know that we have some “sober curious” people listening to this podcast, people who’ve not yet crossed that line into dependence.. so this episode will be of particular interest to them..
But if you were worried about your drinking and you have managed to clock up a period of sobriety then I would urge you to hang in there… it will get better and better and trying to moderate could take you back to Day One again!
So let’s get to my guest who is Pamela Power, who is an author, a television script writer and has published a book called  “My Year of Not Getting Shitfaced”..
In this episode:-
Pamela’s mother was dependent on alcohol
As a result Pamela become a people pleaser - anxiously watching for her mothers behaviour to change as she drank
As a teenager Pamela sampled homemade wines on her grandmother's farm in Ireland
There was occasional drinking during teenage years and university but nothing excessive
Her drinking Increased as she enjoyed socialising with her friends during weekends and social events
This period was pre-parenthood so the responsibilities of motherhood put the brakes on her drinking
In spite of this she found herself drinking more during social gatherings and stressful periods, especially during COVID-19 pandemic
She recognised that there could be a potential problem even though she certainly didn’t fit the traditional addiction narrative
Pamela experienced an embarrassing blackout during Mothers Day and decided she needed to take a break and reassess her drinking habits
Her intention was to experiment with moderation and take periodic breaks as a means of self-awareness and health maintenance
Pamela acknowledges that she had no idea of the low risk limits or alcohol  
She is not alone in this – many people are unaware of those limits. 
To be clear the World Health Organisation says that to be healthy we shouldn’t drink alcohol at all. 
The evidence is stacking up and it's now proven that alcohol is linked to 7 types of cancer and more than 60 diseases.
Moderation means drinking no more than a bottle and a half of wine A WEEK. 
Knowing I had to drink within those limits is actually one of the things that helped me to quit.  Drinking a small glass of wine in the evening was not going to give me a buzz so I might as well quit!
We discussed the societal differences in drinking culture, highlighting the sober curious movement and the way the younger generation seems to be falling out of love with alcohol
The latest stats from UK tell us that a massive 40% of 18-24 year olds don’t drink at all!
Pamela enjoys fine wines but does recognize their addictive nature.
We reflected on the challenges of sober socializing and the benefits of leaving social events early.
We agreed on the importance of finding new sources of entertainment and occupation without alcohol.
I mentioned my concern about the possibility that her book could tempt people to try (or retry) moderation when they really needed to quit as they were already dependent.
Pamela explained that she had read a lot of quitlit and could not identify with any of the authors as their stories were too extreme
So she has written this book recognising that there are different drinking patterns and that her story will resonate with those people who are simply sober curious
The book is called, "My Year of Not Getting Shit Faced," available online and in bookstores.
More Info
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
Find out more about our FREE Bootcamps - next one is 20-24th May - more info 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. 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.
 
 

Addicted In Film with Ted Perkins

Today’s guest is going to give us a peek into Hollywood and the fascinating world of movies about recovery
Ted Perkins worked in the film industry for 30 years and has a book out called:-
"Addicted in Film, Movies We Love About the Habits We Hate"
I’ve just finished reading it and it’s fascinating – I had no idea there were so many films about recovery!
The book forms the basis of his Recovery Movie Meetup program
In this episode:-
Ted grew up in a diplomatic family, where cocktail parties were the norm..
Worked as a movie producer for Universal Studios for 30 years, then pursued independent screenwriting
The Movie industry (like so many other industries) is “awash in alcohol” as Ted put it
His drinking was mainly recreational until he began to work independently as a scriptwriter when it became more about managing his anxiety 
His scriptwriting career involved a lot of waiting around for responses regarding scripts he had submitted
Ted shared his personal struggle with moderation and his attempts to control his drinking
He talks us through his unique approach to sobriety – rather than 90 meetings in 90 days he watched 100 recovery movies in 100 days!
In fact I’ve recently interviewed a guy for the podcast who listened to 100 Tribe Sober podcasts in 100 days… and it worked!   He’s sober now and I ‘ll be releasing that interview soon
I’m even thinking of creating a 100 episode playlist to go with it!
Apart from his movie watching Ted also worked with Smart Recovery
His recovery led to him writing his book and developing Recovery Movie Meetups
His book is called: "Addicted in Film, Movies We Love About the Habits We Hate" – available on Amazon – and on kindle – do check it out, its brilliant
Recovery Movie Meetups enables communities to host support meetings using addiction-themed movies… and Tribe Sober will be hosting their first Recovery Movie Meetup with Ted on 11th May
We’ll be watching an addiction themed movie and following it with a discussion – using guided questions
I asked him for his Favorite Recovery Movie: which is the "Lost Weekend" which came out way back in (1945)
I asked him to Recommended a Movie: He suggested "Thanks for Sharing" for its portrayal of various addictions and recovery aspects
We discussed Society's stigma towards alcoholism: that misconception of alcoholics as homeless, contrasting with the majority of people affected who are in fact functional alcoholics
Of course the danger of seeing the alcoholic as a homeless man in the park is that we look at him and think – I’m not that bad so I can carry on drinking!
This suits the alcohol industry very well of course.
AA's branding of the "alcoholic" can be likened to the religious branding of sinners – it’s a way to keep the flock together – to keep them coming to church… or meetings.
We agreed that we had to take the Initiative in our recovery: we can’t just sit around waiting for life to become perfect – we have to rebuild our life, embrace opportunities and create an alcohol free life that we love
Recovery is about reclaiming life’s possibilities
We talked about the Hollywood celebrities who are modelling sobriety and making it cool: Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Anthony Hopkins, Demi Lovato, and plenty of others
I really loved Teds feedback loop – I’m going to read a quote from the transcript of the interview
Over time it'll work itself out and you'll see, …. all of the things that you thought were not going to be possible will become possible and you'll do things that you never thought possible      Then your life in sobriety will then start an automatic feedback loop. Showing you how great life is and will continue to get as you pursue sobriety.
I love that idea of an automatic feedback loop – as the benefits of sobriety start to come in we realise we want to hold on to them….
More Info
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
Find out more about our FREE Bootcamps - next one is 20-24th May - more info 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 and Instagram.
You can join our private Facebook group HERE.
 

How Alcohol Made Fools of us All! - with Ken M Middleton

Today’s guest is Ken Middleton
If you’re a regular listener then you’ll already know Ken and many of you have read his fabulous book which is called Bamboozled – How Alcohol Makes Fools of us all!"
Kenis an interesting case because he didn’t embark on this journey because he was worried about his alcohol dependence… he did it because he realised that alcohol was preventing him from reaching his potential
As he says “even if alcohol doesn’t destroy you it will prevent you from reaching your potential”
How true!
This is my actually my third podcast episode with Ken – You can listen to the other podcast episodes here and here
 
In this episode:-
Ken started his sobriety journey by educating himself on the scientific effects of alcohol. There is such power in knowledge – the more we understand about the damage alcohol does the less we feel like drinking it!
His drinking career was pretty typical – starting at college where he used it to fit in and socialize. His drinking then intensified during his sales career
It was when he decided to become an entrepreneur that Ken realized the detrimental impact of alcohol on his productivity.
He decided to take a 90-day break from drinking with his wife, to his surprise this period of sobriety led to a significant increase in his productivity and income.
Two weeks into his sobriety, Ken read Annie Grace's "This Naked Mind" which changed his perspective on alcohol.
This book helped him to recognize the spectrum of alcohol's effects,
We agreed that society stigmatises the alcoholic to such an extent that we imagine an alcoholic to be a homeless man in the park – this gives us a reason to decide we are not “that bad” so we can carry on drinking!
This suits the alcohol industry very well of course!
Inspired by his journey, Ken wrote "Bamboozled" to share his experiences and educate others on the hidden dangers of alcohol.
One of the things I love about his book is the stories he includes - alcohol parables like "Scott and Mitchell," illustrating how drinking choices in college can impact future success.
Ken emphasizes the cognitive and emotional impairment caused by alcohol, affecting decision-making, learning, and long-term success – of course its especially harmful for young brains which are still developing
Ken encourages his readers to consider the long-term effects on their lives and potential.
He believes in running towards personal growth rather than away from alcohol, recognizing the multitude of benefits gained through sobriety.  I love this approach and see our members getting more and more motivated as the benefits of sobriety keep coming!
Societal views on drinking are changing, with more and more young people abstaining - For example the latest stats from the UK tell us that 39% of 18-24 people just don’t drink
Another of Kens alcohol parables focuses on Sarah and Susan
Susan's excessive drinking hinders her career growth, while Sarah's more moderate approach leads to promotion.
Hollywood's portrayal of alcohol influences societal perceptions and behaviors – Ken has a whole chapter on this and its fascinatingIf you haven't yet read Bamboozled then you’re missing out – it’s a really great read, you can buy it from Amazon or you can get it directly from Ken on TheBamboozledBook.comDo check out his 90 day challenge that he mentioned – he’s set up a website for that which is called https://www.dry90.com/ - I’ll put the links in the shownotes
You can also follow Ken on Instagram @kenmmiddleton and of course his regular newsletter is called Alcohol is Not Your Friend.
More Info
 
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 and Instagram.
You can join our private Facebook group HERE.
 

The Sobriety Experiment with Sarah Rusbatch

My guest Sarah Rusbatch is a Brit living in Oz –  she struggled with alcohol dependence for years but finally nailed sobriety and trained as a Sober Coach.  She's also written a book called "Beyond Booze" which enables people to build an alcohol free life that we love!
In this episode:-
Sarah began drinking in her early teens
It became a way to fit in and make friends at school and at university
We reflected on the drinking culture in the UK during the 90s, influenced by tv series like Sex and the City and the Ladette culture.
After moving to Australia and becoming a mother, Sarah felt a bit lost – she struggled to find a new friendship group and turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Despite not drinking every day, Sarah realized she had a problem with alcohol when it started affecting her physical and mental health.
She shared a painful experience at a party where she lost her balance and fell over, cutting her face
A visit to the pharmacy the next day resulted in the shop assistant slipping her the number for a domestic abuse helpline
This incident prompted her to start a 21-day detox, which she eventually extended by using various tools such as
Annie Grace's Book: which introduced the novel concept of reconsidering alcohol as something other than wonderful!
She began to realize the negative impacts of alcohol on anxiety, sleep, weight, and productivity.
We discussed Workplace performance and how quitting alcohol can lead to a 30% increase in effectiveness, highlighting how alcohol not only damages our physical and mental health but it prevents us from reaching our potential.
Sarah explained how drinking damages the Pillars of Good Health: Alcohol affects various aspects of health beyond direct consumption, such as sleep, exercise, and nutrition, impacting overall well-being.
She talked about the Relationship with her Husband: Both were heavy drinkers, enabling each other's habits and avoiding confrontation about their drinking.
Her husband Initially stopped drinking for three years, then restarted… he eventually decided to quit again due to realizing the negative impact on his life.
This ties in with one of the great tips Sarah shared with us – go alcohol free for a while, collect the data – then make a comparison with how you feel when you drink… do it as an experiment, be a scientist in your own life!
Sarahs 3 Benefits of Sobriety: Rediscovery of authentic self, better role modeling for children, and a renewed zest for life which enables her to  fulfil her potential.
Her tips to get your Sobriety started: Have a clear why and do a 30-day experiment, immersing yourself in the resources, and embrace community support.
Sarah's Book and Community: "Beyond Booze" focuses on building a fulfilling alcohol-free life. Its not about how to quit as much as how to build an alcohol free life that you love
Find out more about Sarah via her website which is:-  www.sarahrusbatch.com
More Info
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 and Instagram.
You can join our private Facebook group HERE.
 

Playing Russian Roulette... with Alcohol - Michael Waite

Mike Waite is working to improve brain health awareness via behavior, nature, and immersive technologies.
He teaches about brain health through his podcast which is called the Brain Shaman
Mike is American but lives in Japan – he has a pretty wild drinking story about how he ended up in Japan so you won’t want to miss this one!
In this episode:-
Mike shared his mindblowing story of relocating to Japan while under the influence of alcohol!
Sometimes it can be liberating to close down our rational brain and go where alcohol takes us but as Mike emphasised we are playing Russian Roulette and it can be disastrous
In fact many people are in prison because alcohol took them to a dark place and they committed a crime in a blackout!
We discussed the importance of dismantling the limiting beliefs that we hold about alcohol 
We need to educate ourselves about the effects of alcohol on the brain and body, including both short-term and long-term consequences.
We are both fans of William Porter so if you want to understand the science behind alcohol dependence then his book Alcohol Explained is a great place to start because..
The more we understand about the damage alcohol can do the less inclined we’ll be to drink it!
We are “groomed” by the Liquor Industry to want alcohol from a very tender age..
As an example Mike explained that he used to watch movies like American Pie and The Hangover at the age of 12 or 13 – these movies built a strong belief that he would need lots of alcohol to party and have fun
Of course the influence of alcohol advertising is even stronger on the teenage brain which is still developing
Recognising marketing for the BS that it is takes away the power – I shared my tactic for timing how long we get into a movie before the alcohol comes out
We agreed that envisioning a group of cynical marketing executives rubbing their hands together as their sales increase will help us to recognise the manipulation that is taking place on a continual basis
We have to use our imagination to redefine associations with alcohol so that when we see it on the shelf we realise its poison
We have to cultivate self-awareness and mindfulness to recognize and address underlying reasons for using alcohol, such as stress, anxiety, or social pressure.
We agreed on the value of supportive communities and networks, like Tribe Sober, where individuals can connect, share, and support each other in their journey towards sobriety and improved brain health.
Mike is experiencing the value of a sober community himself as he goes through our 66 day sober challenge.
Mike encourages holistic approaches to well-being that prioritize mental and physical health, emphasizing the importance of sleep, nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle factors in maintaining brain health and overall wellness.
He took us through some alternative coping strategies and activities for relaxation, stress relief, and socializing that don't involve alcohol and emphasized their benefits
We have to recognize the social pressure and rebel against it – we need to learn to be a rebel not a sheep – after all its easy to drink – being alcohol free takes confidence and courage!
We need to remember the power of fading affect bias: we mustn’t forget the dark places our drinking took us to
Tribe Sober has 2 tools to avoid FAB
Create a blacklist of negative drinking experiences
Write a goodbye letter to alcohol, symbolizing the end of the relationship
When we quit drinking we have to channel our energy into positive activities 
We need to recognize alcohol's role in wasting our time and energy
We also need to consider long-term health consequences, including nerve damage and neurodegeneration
We discussed the fact that more and more celebrities are sober these days
Ironically Bradley Cooper who dazzled the 12 year old Mike with his drunken antics in the Hangover has been sober for 20 years!
You can follow Mikes podcast which is called Brain Shaman on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
More Info
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
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You can join our private Facebook group HERE.
 
 

Sober Communities Rock! - with Carolyn Clark

Today’s guest is Sober Coach Carolyn Clark who has an inspiring recovery story to share.
Not only is she thriving in her alcohol free life but she’s running sober retreats in Bali!
WE never know whats round the corner when we embark on this journeyWe really have to trust the Universe…ditch the booze, do the work… and the magic will happen
I bet Carolyn never thought she’s be running retreats in Bali when she was drinking every night!
 
In this episode:-
Carolyn started drinking as a teenager to cope with childhood trauma - this escalated as she got older
Her father's alcohol-related death prompted her interest in counselling
Carolyn experienced some tragic losses in 2016-17 – these led to increased drinking as a coping mechanism – as it got to 6pm she just wanted to numb out the feelings
She reached a turning point in December 2020 when she looked in the mirror and saw her brothers face looking back at her – this was her brother who had died from alcohol related causes
So she decided to do Dry January
She joined a supportive online community, found strength in accountability
Carolyn hasn't had a drink since December 31, 2020
Even though she wasn’t even trying she lost a lot of weight by ditching the booze and taking up exercise – I think she said 3 stone which is about 20 kilos or 42 pounds!
If you’re interested in how alcohol affects your weight you must have a listen to my podcast with James Stanwick which was released on March 9th – that’s already had more than 2,000 downloads so it obviously struck a chord 
Carolyn and I agreed that we gain courage to try new things in sobriety – sobriety is a superpower – we get this feeling that if we can do this.. we can do pretty much anything!
She decided to train as a sober coach during the second year of sobriety
Even though she lost her mother in 2021 she remained committed to sobriety
Her 44 year marriage has also ended recently but these days she manages to Cope with her feelings in a healthy way through journaling, beach walks, and expressing her emotions rather than numbing them away with alcohol
She also incorporated a yoga practice into her journey of self discovery and body connection
These days Carolyn leads retreats in Bali… retreats for sober women who want to connect, heal and thrive
You can find out more about Carolyn and her retreats by going to her website which is carolynclarkcoaching.com and she’s also on Instagram as soberhappysixties 
 
More Info
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 and Instagram.
You can join our private Facebook group HERE.
 

Writing your Recovery with Ann Dowsett-Johnston

Today’s guest is the wonderful Ann Dowsett Johnston who many of you will have heard of – she is a pioneer of the modern recovery movement and published her book "Drink" back in 2013 – which makes it one of the very first QuitLit books
In this episode:-
Ann's book Drink has been out for more than a decade and is still selling well – her TED talk has had 1.5m views 
I did a previous interview with Ann a couple of years ago that you can listen to here. 
The prologue to the book describes alcohol's seductive charm…and eventual harm
I love this analogy and here at Tribe Sober we suggest that our members write a Goodbye letter to alcohol as it evolves from a handsome stranger to an abusive lover
Ann predicted the dramatic rise in risky drinking for women, which has sadly come true over the last decade
There is an epidemic of female drinking, especially among younger women, with serious health consequences – we are even seeing young women presenting with liver disease
The alcohol industry has been targeting women for the last couple of decades – using the tobacco marketing playbook  and they’ve been stunningly successful
Many of us believed that we couldn’t have fun or relax or cope with stress without alcohol – and it certainly takes a few months to deprogram our thinking, to overturn those limiting belief
Ann is from Canada so had first hand experience of the public backlash that the low drinking guidelines (two drinks a week) caused!
The reduction in drinking guidelines came as new research was published linking alcohol to cancer and many other health conditions
Ann and I both love the modern recovery movement and the many different recovery pathways – I often say that if you want to give up drinking you need to find your people – if you think that Tribe Sober might be your community then go to tribesober.com and hit join our tribe
Ann mentioned the three levers for change: price, marketing reduction, and availability, but government action is slow and Big Alcohol will continue to use its lobbying power
So as individuals we must actively seek out the knowledge – we need to educate ourselves about the harm that alcohol can do to our brains and our bodies
Knowledge is power and the more we understand about alcohol the less we’ll feel like drinking it
Even if we decide to drink it should be an informed decision, we need to understand the risks
Ann talked about her "Writing Your Recovery" courses which offers support and tools for memoir writing.
Its a powerful 8-week online memoir-writing course.
Starts on 24th April and accommodates various timezones – go to her website annsdowsettjohnston.com for more info – I’ll put the links in the shownotes
Ann will also be facilitating a South African writing retreat during week commencing 15th October – you can get on the waiting list for that by emailing info@bkr.co.za
Ann now has 15 years of sobriety and spoke of the many benefits she has experienced
She returned to school at 64 to become a psychotherapist, specializing in women's substance issues and trauma
She has a wonderful relationship with her grandchild
Ann strongly believes that once we walk away from alcohol remarkable things will happen – the universe has a plan for us – she is awakened to wonder as she puts it
She’s built a rich and an alcohol free life that she loves, a life she definitely doesn’t want to escape from!
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 and Instagram.
You can join our private Facebook group HERE.