Sober Not Sorry by Thrivalist

In this courageous and soul-stirring episode, I sit down with our beautiful Thrivalist member Maddie for a conversation that will move you to tears and leave you in awe of her strength.Maddie’s journey hasn’t been easy. She’s experienced more pain than many do in a lifetime – and for years, she turned to alcohol as a way to cope. She speaks with raw vulnerability about her struggles with mental health, the hidden pain of self-harm, and how alcohol became a destructive cycle that left her feeling isolated and disconnected from herself.But Maddie is no longer hiding.She’s now doing the brave, messy, and powerful work of choosing sobriety – sometimes one day, sometimes one hour at a time. This conversation explores what it means to reclaim your life from rock bottom, to start showing up for yourself even when it feels impossibly hard, and to hold space for healing when the wounds run deep.Through her honesty and openness, Maddie reminds us that sobriety isn’t about perfection – it’s about courage, compassion, and the small, daily acts of choosing yourself.This is a story about survival. About tenderness. About learning to live again.We are so grateful to Maddie for sharing her heart with us. Visit our website: https://thrivalistsobriety.comFollow Thrivalist here on InstagramJoin the free Facebook Community here.  Use the coupon ‘Sobernotsorry’ for 20% off the Thrivalist Signature Sobriety Course 

In this honest and thought-provoking episode, I sit down with beautiful Thrivalist member Liz — a mum of three and intuitive healer — as she shares her powerful reckoning with alcohol.Liz wasn’t drinking heavily. In fact, by society’s standards, a wine or two in the evening seemed completely acceptable. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t serving her. Even just one or two drinks began to dull her energy, disconnect her from her intuition, and leave her feeling out of alignment with the life she truly wanted.This conversation explores the often-ignored space between “not a problem” and “not right for me.” Liz speaks openly about the moment she reached out to Thrivalist, and how that act alone gave her the permission to challenge the idea that unless drinking becomes destructive, there’s no reason to question it.Her story is a powerful reminder that you don’t need to hit rock bottom to make a change. If something feels off — even if it’s just one or two drinks — that’s reason enough to take a closer look. Sometimes, the quiet discomfort is the clearest sign that something isn’t working.This is a story about honouring that inner knowing. About tuning in. About rewriting the rules in a way that feels good for you.We’re so grateful to Liz for sharing her truth with us.Where to find Thrivalist: Visit our website: https://thrivalistsobriety.comFollow Thrivalist here on InstagramJoin the free Facebook Community here.  Use the coupon ‘Sobernotsorry’ for 20% off the Thrivalist Signature Sobriety Course 

In this episode of Sober Not Sorry, I’m joined by the incredible Perri Curtis—founder of Train the Brain, an evidence-based approach that blends psychology, neuroscience, and hypnotherapy to create real, lasting change.With over 30 years of experience in private practice, corporate leadership, and university lecturing, Perri brings deep insight and grounded compassion to the work of behaviour change. Together, we explore how the brain forms patterns around alcohol, why we get stuck in habits that don’t serve us, and—most importantly—how we can change.We dive into:What’s really going on in the brain when it comes to alcohol and addictionHow neuroplasticity helps us rewire unhelpful habitsThe connection between emotional regulation and drinkingPractical ways to shift your response to stress and overwhelmOne powerful mindset shift that supports sustainable changePerri’s belief that “if the brain made the pattern, the brain can change it” is at the heart of this conversation—and I know it’s going to leave you feeling both seen and empowered.Where to find Perri:Instagram: @perri_curtis_thebraintrainerWebsite: wellbeingsanctuary.com.auWhere to find Thrivalist: Visit our website: https://thrivalistsobriety.comFollow Thrivalist here on InstagramJoin the free Facebook Community here.  Use the coupon ‘Sobernotsorry’ for 20% off the Thrivalist Signature Sobriety Course 

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with long-time Sober Not Sorry listener Rach to hear her powerful sobriety story — one marked by courage, honesty, and deep personal transformation. Rach opens up about what life looked like before sobriety, the role alcohol played, and the moment she knew something had to change. We explore her last Day One, what made this time different, and the mindsets and tools that helped her stay grounded — even on the tough days. She also shares the beautiful and unexpected gifts that have come with living alcohol-free, and offers some gentle words of wisdom for anyone who might be sober curious and unsure where to begin. This conversation is a reminder that recovery looks different for everyone — and that healing begins the moment we choose to show up for ourselves 💕Visit our website: https://thrivalistsobriety.comFollow Thrivalist here on InstagramJoin the free Facebook Community here.  Use the coupon ‘Sobernotsorry’ for 20% off the Thrivalist Signature Sobriety Course 

In this heartfelt and grounding episode, I sit down with my beautiful friend Katrina Umback—widow, mum, daughter, sister and friend—for a conversation that explores grief, healing, and the choice to live a sober curious life.Katrina has been sober on and off throughout her life, but it was after the devastating loss of her beloved Scotty that her relationship with alcohol came into even sharper focus. As the only parent her children had left, her own health and wellbeing became a non-negotiable. And in a world where alcohol is so often seen as the default in times of pain, Katrina found herself questioning the norm and reflecting deeply on how drinking made her feel.She shares how she came to realise that alcohol wasn’t supporting her grief or her healing—and made the empowered choice to explore another way.Katrina opens up about the tug of war between the societal norm of drinking and staying aligned to her values. She speaks with raw honesty about navigating that space—how choosing clarity over numbness has shifted her weekends, her presence, and her connection to what matters most.This conversation is a powerful reminder that sobriety doesn’t always come from hitting rock bottom—it can come from choosing to honour your heart, your health, your healing, and the people you love.This is a story of resilience. Of inner strength. Of choosing a path that might not be easy, but feels true.We are so grateful to Katrina Umback for sharing her story with us.Visit our website: https://thrivalistsobriety.comFollow Thrivalist here on InstagramJoin the free Facebook Community here.  Use the coupon ‘Sobernotsorry’ for 20% off the Thrivalist Signature Sobriety Course Connect with Katrina:🔗 https://www.facebook.com/share/19V3JnSeck/?mibextid=wwXIfr🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-umback/

In this raw and reflective episode, I sit down with Robert Marino – founder of Rolling Hills Recovery Center and Novara Recovery Center – to talk about addiction, faith, and the road to long-term recovery.Robert takes us into the depths of his story, sharing what life looked like in active addiction — including periods of living on the streets, completely disconnected from the life he once knew. He speaks candidly about the pain, the rock bottom moments that brought him to his knees, and the role AA and a connection to God played in helping him begin again.He also shares how the vision for his treatment centres began to unfold — both built while still on his own path to wholeness. Rolling Hills and Novara are now home to a team rooted in lived experience — people who know firsthand what it means to feel broken and choose to rise.What makes Robert’s story so powerful is that his recovery didn’t just change his life — it became the catalyst for helping thousands of others reclaim theirs. His healing became something so much bigger than himself.This is a conversation about surrender, purpose, and the extraordinary things that can happen when you decide your story isn’t over yet.Visit our website: https://thrivalistsobriety.comFollow Thrivalist here on InstagramJoin the free Facebook Community here.  Use the coupon ‘Sobernotsorry’ for 20% off the Thrivalist Signature Sobriety Course Follow Robert here on Instagram Follow Robert here on Facebook