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This podcast is about finding calm. I talk to the experts and bring you evidence-based practical methods to help you destress and live purposefully. In my early 40’s, I bowed out of a 20 year legal career “to spend more time with the kids”. However it was more than that. Decades of running on high anxiety and drinking to cope had had its toll on my nervous system and I was burnt out. I didn’t know it at the time, but from there I started years of recovery and ultimately stepped into a new wa ...
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Are you trying to drink less alcohol but need some motivation? Or are you curious about sober life? The Not Drinking Today pod provides an invaluable resource to keep you motivated and on track today and beyond. Meg and Bella's guests include neuroscientists, quit-lit authors, journalists, health experts, alcohol coaches and everyday people who have struggled with alcohol but have triumphed over it. Our aim is to support and inspire you to reach your goals to drink less or none at all! Meg a ...
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Today I have THE BEST guest out there to talk about the link between sugar addiction and stress and how we can understand it better and manage it. Jolene Park, functional nutritionist, Ted X Speaker, coach of coaches and expert on sugar addiction, stress, grey area drinking and a whole lot more. Are you addicted to sugar? Do you crave sugary treats…
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* This is not the best topic to listen to on speaker with your kids in the background! ** If the topic of sex is triggering for you, then perhaps hit pause and move to another episode OK, SOBER SEX… Let’s talk about it. Why?! Because it comes up a lot. Discreetly and tentatively at first but it presents as a major issue often when alcohol is remove…
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Have you ever wondered how societal norms around drinking are subtly shaping your habits? This week, we're thrilled to welcome Ellie Crow from the Present and Sober Podcast. Ellie, a This Naked Mind senior certified coach, bravely opens up about her gradual shift from casual social drinking to using alcohol as a coping mechanism after becoming a mo…
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What drives a successful lawyer to reveal a hidden struggle with addiction? In this compelling episode, we sit down with Lisa Smith, author of the acclaimed memoir "A Girl Walks Out of a Bar," who bravely shares her journey from the high-stakes world of law to battling alcohol and cocaine addiction. The book recounts her descent into and recovery f…
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*Please note this episode includes references to addiction and touches on an eating disorder and non-suicidal self injury Nikki Langman is brilliant. She is a badass. In fact, she is the author of How to be a BADASS: Navigating Your Road to Self-Mastery. Learn how to embrace your inner badass. Nikki Langman, an international speaker, author, and th…
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Join us as we chat with Eliza Parkinson, an alcohol mindset coach, who shares her journey from social drinking in her teens to the pressures of "mommy drinking culture" during motherhood. Eliza faced emotional turmoil, especially after her second child was diagnosed with special needs, and turned to alcohol to cope. Discover how Eliza realised that…
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Have you ever felt the grip of an alcohol craving, only to feel powerless against it? In this episode, we explore the empowering technique of 'surfing the urge'. This technique is backed by by science. It alters your brain's circuitry to allow greater control over impulses and emotional regulation so that you can hit pause between a craving and kno…
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Today, we have the honor of speaking with William Porter, the insightful author of "Alcohol Explained." William spent years in the throes of his own drinking career, unknowingly gathering the research and experiences that would later form the foundation of his life-changing book. In this episode William is generous in his knowledge and wisdom. Will…
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Have you ever woken up at 3am with a pounding heart and a regretful mind, questioning your decision to indulge in those extra drinks? Or found yourself promising to cut back, only to slip back into old habits when stress kicks in? Today Bella talks about her 10 unmistakable red flags that signal it's time to reevaluate your relationship with alcoho…
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The word "mindfulness" used to stop me in my tracks and not in a good way! I used to cringe when I heard it, roll my eyes when it was dropped in a sentence and get bamboozled by what the heck it meant! It. Just. Seemed. Like. A. Trendy. Overused. Term. However now I am "one of them!". Let's talk about the why's, how's, what's of mindfulness. In par…
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I never imagined that so many special memories in my life would be a blur. The harsh reality of alcohol-induced blackouts left a mark on what should have been some of the clearest and happiest days of my life. Tune in as I, Meg, unravel the harrowing connection between these blackouts and anxiety, and the role they've played in my own journey. It's…
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Did you know that nourishing and supporting your gut and liver is key to balancing your hormones? Trish Tucker May, author of Nourishing Your Gut For A Positive Menopause, talks to us about how to make easy practical changes to your diet to aid many menopause symptoms. Trish is a Menopause Functional Nutritionist with a dedicated focus on gut healt…
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Veronica Valli, a recovery coach with nearly 24 years of sobriety, and one of the "originals" of the modern alcohol free movement, joins us to share how she maintains her sober practice after all these years. Hint - she's written about how she does it in her insightful book, Soberful, which talks about 5 pillars of a sustainable sobriety, that Vero…
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Ever wondered why certain habits stick like glue while we struggle to maintain others? Dr. Gina Cleo, habit expert, dietitian and author of The Habit Revolution, joins us to unpack the science behind our daily routines and how to break up with bad habits whilst making the good ones stick. Dr. Gina Cleo is one of the world’s leading experts in habit…
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Struggling with alcohol can feel like a lonely battle, but Margie Colthorpe's story offers hope and community. In our latest episode, she shares her courageous journey from addiction to recovery. Margie's turning point came with a medical emergency, which prompted her to embrace self-acceptance and embark on a path of enlightenment. Her story is a …
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When Emma Gilmour of Hope Rising Coaching joined us, she didn't just bring a big laugh (and that we did many of!) — she brought an open conversation about her recent autism diagnosis, raising neurodivergent children, perimenopause, giving up alcohol and finding calm in a chaotic world! Sigh... Emma is just awesome. We talk about parenting children …
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Have you ever felt stretched too thin, saying 'yes' when every fibre of your being screams 'no'? Well look no further. Today we are joined by Dr. Rebecca Ray, clinical psychologist and author of Setting Boundaries. We talk about what a boundary is, when to know you ought to actively set one, how to do it and how to enforce it. We also chat about wh…
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Have you ever felt the weight of a wine glass tug not just at your hand but your entire life? Susan, our incredible guest and This Naked Mind certified coach, bravely opens up about her transition from stress-induced drinking to a vibrant alcohol-free existence, offering an intimate look at the liberation that comes with breaking free from the bott…
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Today we talk to Jen Hirst! Jen is an open book when it comes to her experience with alcohol addiction. She says it like it is and discusses how she recovered with transparency. This is what drew me to Jen. Her honesty about how dark it got has been such an inspiration for many who can relate and say 'yep me too!". Jen now dedicates her time to hel…
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Imagine waking up to a life where the haze of alcohol no longer clouds your clarity, a life where wellness and sobriety walk hand in hand. That's the transformative journey Trish Tucker May, nutritionist and founder of Passion4Juice, shares with us in a revealing conversation about the complexities of alcohol addiction and the pursuit of health. Tr…
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Justine Whitchurch was on our TVs in the 90's, thriving on the surface, but drinking to soothe anxiety and OCD underneath. In this episode, Justine's story reveals the harsh realities of addiction—how it can lead us to isolation, shame, near death — and turn us into someone we hardly recognise. As with many of us, Justine's dependence on alcohol sl…
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Have you ever reached for a glass of wine to wash away the blues, only to find the weight of the world heavier on your shoulders? It's a story many of us know all too well. In our latest chat, Meg unravels the intricate ties between alcohol and depression, making sense of how this coping mechanism can backfire and deepen our struggles with mental h…
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When Janet Grand swapped her hectic London life for Cape Town, little did she know that her own journey to sobriety would inspire the birth of Tribe Sober, a fabulous sober community, supporting individuals to feel less alone as they embark on their mission to drink less alcohol. Janet talks about the power of connection as a motivating force to he…
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Have you ever found yourself trapped in the cycle of binge drinking, wondering if there's a way out? Colleen Clifford, a health and alcohol recovery coach, joins us to share her harrowing yet hopeful journey from the depths of alcohol dependency to the freedom of sobriety. Her raw account delves into the social seduction of binge drinking, the deni…
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Professor Selena Bartlett and I talks about her latest book Being Seen, a parenting survival guide for all of us trying to limit the impact that screen time has on our children's mental health, safety and future in the digital age, based on fostering connection, resilience and the management of tech in our homes. We discuss how young minds are sile…
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Today we welcome Natalie West, a high-performance psychotherapist whose innovative work is forging new paths in treating alcohol dependency. This episode promises to redefine your perspective on the role of nutrition in habit change and offers a fresh understanding of how our earliest experiences and value systems shape our subconscious and our hab…
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Today, I talk about burnout, what it is, what the tell-tale symptoms are, what professions are more likely than others to get it, how to pre-empt it and how to manage it. Burnout is often a silent struggle. For anyone teetering on the brink, or if you're simply invested in safeguarding your mental well-being, let this discussion guide you towards u…
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Meg hadn't realised how her drinking at social events to ease her anxiety, was going to eventually turn into a secretive habit. In a heartfelt conversation, Meg opens up about how her drinking evolved into a coping mechanism for social anxiety. What started as a way to ease into social situations gradually became a reliance on alcohol for solitude,…
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The founder of Hope Rising Coaching, Emma Gilmour, joins me to chat about how to tap into our magnificence in mid-life. Emma talks about her personal evolution from a lifestyle fuelled by adrenaline to one that celebrates serenity and self-care, especially as we traverse the complexities of midlife. We traverse how to foster and protect resilience …
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It’s underground. It’s shameful. It’s dangerous and it is happening in households all around us. Many hiding their drinking look great on the outside (for a while, for years even) and many do not know why they are doing it. They want out, but it’s a really hard behaviour to fess up to. It’s very personal, runs deep and very confusing. In this episo…
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What are your core personal values and why is this important to know? Well it helps us to understand our passions, purpose, make tough decisions and, wait for it, curate a life that feels successful and 'right' for us. Embarking on a new adventure, I've recently resettled in the serene Adelaide Hills, exchanging (temporarily) the bustling Sydney li…
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Embarking on an introspective expedition, we're joined by the insightful Health and Wellbeing Coach, Sarah Rustbatch, who shares a candid narrative of her personal evolution from the grips of teenage drinking to the liberation of sobriety. Her story is set against the backdrop of Northern England's culture where alcohol is woven into the fabric of …
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Have you ever raised a glass, seeking pleasure, only to find yourself in a less-than-sunny place once the buzz fades? That's the deceptive dance of alcohol that Annie Grace of "This Naked Mind" illuminates so well. The short-lived pleasure of alcohol only leads to more discomfort, a truth that's both harsh and liberating. By understanding the scien…
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Reflecting on the reckless abandon of our youths, we never imagined the nights of heavy drinking would evolve into a lifestyle fraught with risks and regrets. Join Meg and Bella as we peel away the layers of Australia's binge drinking culture, sharing raw and honest tales from our past. We take you through the high-risk initiation rites of youth, t…
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As the clock struck midnight this New Year's Eve, Bella and Meg celebrated not with clinking glasses, but with a toast to clarity and vitality. We're kicking off the podcast with a heart-to-heart about the serenity of our alcohol-free festivities and the uplifting start to another year of sobriety. We open up about the empowering decision to share …
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Jolene Park joins us this episode to talk about the importance of prioritising the nourishment of your nervous system and neurotransmitters when quitting drinking. Jolene explains why a “bottom up” approach focussing on rewiring, replenishing and repairing the nervous system is vital to the success of drinking less long term. Do you drink to relax,…
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On our Christmas Eve One-Year Anniversary, we welcome Annie Grace, the trailblazing founder of This Naked Mind! Annie talks about her transformation to an alcohol-free author of This Naked Mind, creator of The Alcohol Experiment and a coach of alcohol coaches spreading her This Naked Mind methodology across the globe. We talk about how she wrote Th…
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Picture the scene - a harried mom at the end of a tiring day, reaching for a glass of wine to unwind. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? We've all been there, but have you ever truly considered how this habit impacts us and our children? Let's challenge this perception together as we welcome our special guest, Chrissy Jannega, a certified alcohol-free mi…
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Our guest today, Susan Hodgson, is an Irish coach living in France, who helps expats to drink less and find a welcoming sober community abroad. We discuss how Susan made the choice to step away from alcohol after experiencing anxiety and worried that her alcohol use may be exacerbating it. We also discuss the startling differences between Irish and…
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In this episode, Michelle Cunniff, an alcohol mindset coach, takes us on an intimate journey that traces her path from over-drinking to fully embracing a healthier lifestyle. Through candid conversations, we delve into her early forays into drinking during high school and college, and how this habit evolved and became a crutch during periods of lon…
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Are you sick of 'meetings' at the pub? Do you feel pressured to drink when networking or feel anxious before 'Happy Hour' and dread the inevitable hangover? Do you wish being part of your work's 'inner sanctum' didn't necessitate downing bucketloads of alcohol? Surely, there is another way for the workplace to be safer, more inclusive and healthier…
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New episode out now on De-Stress for Success! Ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of your tasks and wished you had someone to guide you through those tough times? Tim Sprague, our guest for this episode, a seasoned executive coach and the president of the International Coaching Federation Australasia Charter Chapter, shares his insights on …
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What if you could navigate the complexities of menopause with a little help from nutrition and lifestyle changes? Join us for a meaningful conversation with registered nutritionist and author Emma Bardwell, as we delve into the lesser-known facets of menopause and its impacts. Emma provides startling insights into Peri-Menopause, a phase that can s…
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Ever wondered when a stay in a rehabilitation treatment centre might be necessary? What can you expect if you or a loved one is considering spending some time in one? What does an average day look like in rehab? Today we discuss these questions and more with Ruth Limkin, Chief Development Officer of Sana Health Group, which coordinates a network of…
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Picture this: You're living in bustling Brooklyn, where bars dot the streets and nights blend into days. This was Justin's reality, a continuous cycle of drinking and living the fast-paced city life. In this enlightening conversation, Justin, a fellow alcohol recovery coach, and Meg share our personal journeys to sobriety. From navigating the socia…
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This is an episode I wish I had been able to bring to you earlier! My guest, Dr Shamistra Barathan an integrative medicine doctor from Melbourne's Mint Clinic, discusses what stress actually is, how it is triggered and what it does to our mental and physical health. Do you that our bodies can be feeling stressed long before it physically manifests …
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Today, Shaun Palmer of Revive Sobriety Coaching, shares his powerful story of breaking his family's generational cycle of alcohol dependence to become an alcohol free man who now helps other men and women to drink less. This is a story of resilience, strength and transformation. We discuss the societal pressures that often lead men to become alcoho…
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Can you imagine being ensnared by the grip of alcohol, as a young 14-year-old, in a culture where there's no age limit on drinking? That's the hard-hitting reality of our guest, Karina Koplock, who found herself in a suffocating relationship with alcohol, a journey that began in her Mother's native land, Peru. A high-functioning individual, it took…
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Today on De-Stress for Success, we are joined by Professor Michael Gradisar, Director and Clinical Psychologist at Wink Sleep in Australia, to chat about the connection between our sleep patterns and stress levels. Professor Gradisar breaks it down for us. From debunking the harm done by watching TV in bed to highlighting the negative impacts of al…
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As Ali says "if I can kick the booze, anyone can!" Ali, a beacon of strength and resilience, provides hopes to others trying to quit alcohol as she bravely shares her life’s story and path to sobriety. Ali talks about her childhood, relationships and the poignant moments that led to her awakening to get sober and stay sober. Ali's story is a stark …
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