{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6595ff3d9616e6001613f21f/6a9f72f8ffe0e274915e3a13?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Why I’m Proud to Call Myself an Alcoholic - with Cat Sims","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6595ff3d9616e6001613f21f/1789376385141-d8ffa8a2-c64d-4bae-894c-ed52bb4760ff.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Not so smug now! - This week, Vic sits down with writer, podcaster and self-confessed “textbook drunk” Cat Sims for a conversation about motherhood, drugs, booze and what happens when the party girl suddenly has a tiny human to keep alive.</p><p><br></p><p>They talk about crying in school car parks, postnatal depression, drinking as a reward for surviving motherhood and that strange moment in sobriety when you realise peace isn’t actually boredom. Sometimes life is just… peaceful. Who knew?</p><p><br></p><p>But somewhere along the way, the conversation takes an unexpected turn when Cat uses a word Vic has spent more than eight years avoiding: alcoholic.</p><p>Cat embraces the label. Vic absolutely does not.</p><p><br></p><p>What follows is a surprisingly emotional conversation about why Vic has always called herself an ex drinker, binge drinker, grey area drinker, former party girl, basically anything other than an alcoholic. Has trying to make sobriety feel less frightening for everyone else actually allowed Vic to keep a little bit of her own shame tucked away?</p><p><br></p><p>There are tears, uncomfortable truths and a rather compelling argument that after blowing off a finger at a Full Moon Party, perhaps “grey area drinker” isn’t quite covering it. It’s also a conversation about motherhood and belonging, about why so many women struggle quietly while believing everyone else is coping, and why sometimes the most powerful thing you can say to another mum crying in a car park is not “here’s what you should do”, but simply, “I get it. Sometimes parenting is fucked.”</p><p><br></p><p>Funny, raw and unexpectedly moving, this one shifts something in Vic.</p><p>Enjoy one of the best Sober Awkward guest interviews ever!</p><p><br></p><h2>💛 Resources &amp; Links</h2><p><strong>Follow Cat:</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/www.instagram.com/notsosmugnow\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram</a> (312k followers)</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/www.tiktok.com/@notsosmugnow\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">TikTok</a> (253.7k followers)</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"https://yourenevertheonlyone.substack.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Substack</a> (10k+ subscribers)</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Buy her books:</strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"https://amzn.eu/d/8SjAVFs\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">You&#39;re Never The Only One (Simon &amp; Schuster 2025)</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href=\"https://amzn.eu/d/cpyQ2Ja\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The First Time You Smiled (Harper Collins 2022)</a></strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Listen to her podcast:</strong></p><p><a href=\"https://open.spotify.com/show/44chk0AdWNio3xUzhs5sR2?si=ae6ad28cd6a54eb5\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">You&#39;re Never The Only One</a></p><p><br></p><h3>📖 Vic &amp; Ulrika want to hear from you!</h3><p>Have you got a story, weird drunk confession or a question for Vic and Ulrika?</p><p>Email <strong><a href=\"mailto:vic@soberawkward.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">vicandulrika@soberawkward.com</a></strong>. Your message could inspire a future episode.</p><p><br></p><h3>📱 Join the Sober Awkward app</h3><p><br></p><p>Search <strong>“Sober Awkward”</strong> in the <a href=\"https://apps.apple.com/au/app/sober-awkward/id6779885110?l=en-GB%20Sober%20Awkward\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Apple App Store</a> or find for all other devices click <a href=\"https://open.acast.com/networks/65950b651235930016168017/shows/6595ff3d9616e6001613f21f/episodes/app.soberawkward.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">here</a></p><p><br></p><h3>📲 Follow us</h3><p><br></p><p><strong>Instagram - </strong>Sober Awkward: <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/soberawkward/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@soberawkward</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Facebook - </strong><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/soberawkwardforwomen\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sober Awkward Community for Women</a></p><p><br></p><h3>Retreat with us</h3><p>🌴 Fancy a sober holiday? <a href=\"https://www.soberawkward.com/retreats\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to come and drink from coconuts with us!</a></p><p><br></p><h3>📰 Media enquiries</h3><p>For interviews, features, partnerships or other media requests, contact Kate at <strong><a href=\"mailto:hello@soberawkward.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">hello@soberawkward.com</a></strong>.</p><p><br></p><h3>📘 A Thousand Wasted Sundays</h3><p>Victoria’s brutally honest and hilarious memoir about motherhood, anxiety and ditching the booze.</p><p>👉 <a href=\"https://amzn.asia/d/0aZ69GpK\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Get A Thousand Wasted Sundays</a></p><p><br></p><h3>📙 Mumming</h3><p><em>A Year of Trying (and Failing) to Be a Better Parent</em>—Vic’s funny and painfully relatable memoir about the messy reality of motherhood.</p><p>👉 <a href=\"https://amzn.asia/d/0bUJTS2W\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Get Mumming</a></p><p><br></p><h3>📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide</h3><p>A 30-day sobriety kickstart filled with relatable support, practical tools and plenty of awkwardness to help you begin life without booze.</p><p>👉 <a href=\"https://www.soberawkward.com/theguide\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Explore the Sober Awkward Guide</a></p><p><br></p><h3>🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward</h3><p>Find more episodes, books, events and everything Sober Awkward.</p><p>👉 <a href=\"https://www.soberawkward.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">soberawkward.com</a></p><p><br></p><h2>🛟 Alcohol Support</h2><p><br></p><h3>🇬🇧 United Kingdom</h3><p><strong>Drinkline — National Alcohol Helpline</strong></p><p>Free and confidential support if you are worried about your own or someone else’s drinking.</p><p>Call <strong>0300 123 1110</strong></p><p>Weekdays: 9am–8pm</p><p>Weekends: 11am–4pm</p><p>👉 <a href=\"https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">NHS alcohol support</a></p><p><strong>Alcohol Change UK</strong></p><p>Information, practical tools and support.</p><p>👉 <a href=\"https://alcoholchange.org.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">alcoholchange.org.uk</a></p><p><strong>WithYou</strong></p><p>Free, confidential support with alcohol, drugs and mental health.</p><p>👉 <a href=\"https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">wearewithyou.org.uk</a></p><p>In an emergency, call <strong>999</strong>.</p><p><br></p><h3>🇦🇺 Australia</h3><p><strong>National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline</strong></p><p>Free and confidential information and support.</p><p>Call <strong>1800 250 015</strong></p><p>Available 24/7 in most states and territories.</p><p>👉 <a href=\"https://www.health.gov.au/contacts/national-alcohol-and-other-drug-hotline\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Australian Government hotline information</a></p><p><strong>Lifeline Australia</strong></p><p>Crisis support available 24/7.</p><p>Call <strong>13 11 14</strong></p><p>Text <strong>0477 13 11 14</strong></p><p>👉 <a href=\"https://www.lifeline.org.au/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lifeline.org.au</a></p><p>In an emergency, call <strong>000</strong>.</p>","author_name":"soberawkward"}