Sober Awkward

The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - I didn’t realise it was a funeral - By SarahA huge congratulations to Sarah who was one of this years winners!!Every Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you.Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol.Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone.Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants.So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community.💛 Resources & Links📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted SundaysA brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic.👉 www.soberawkward.com🫖 Join The Cuppa CommunityOur private, supportive online space for sober folk👉 www.cuppa.community📘 Get the Sober Awkward GuideOur downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.👉 The Sober Awkward Guide📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:Instagram: @soberawkwardTikTok: @soberawkwardFacebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCESIf anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone.🇦🇺 AustraliaNational Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline📞 1800 250 015 (24/7)https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-serviceLifeline📞 13 11 14 (24/7)https://www.lifeline.org.auHello Sunday Morning / Daybreakhttps://hellosundaymorning.orghttps://daybreakapp.com.auClean Slate Clinichttps://www.cleanslateclinic.com🇬🇧 United KingdomDrinkline📞 0300 123 1110https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/Alcohol Change UKhttps://alcoholchange.org.ukWe Are With Youhttps://www.wearewithyou.org.uk🌍 InternationalAlcoholics Anonymoushttps://www.aa.orgSMART Recoveryhttps://www.smartrecovery.org💬 A Gentle ReminderIf you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference.

Yes, the World Cup is on, everyone is drinking to celebrate and commiserate, so welcome to your safe little corner of the internet, where Vic promises to mention the legend Jude Bellingham only once… and then get back to what really matters, talking about sobriety and not trying to explain the offside rule.So apart from the Spain win, the other news is....You don’t have to wait until Day One to start building an alcohol-free life.In part two of my conversation with Jean McCarthy, author of UnPickled and creator of the pioneering sobriety podcast The Bubble Hour, we explore what comes next once you’ve decided alcohol might not be serving you anymore.How do you know what kind of support is right for you? Is there a place between the pub and AA? Should you consider therapy, a community, a treatment centre, or something completely different? Jean shares the wisdom she’s gathered from years of helping thousands of people find their own path to sobriety.Together we talk about finding the support that fits you, learning to care for yourself with compassion, and beginning to imagine a future where alcohol no longer takes centre stage.Whether you’re sober curious, preparing for your first alcohol-free day, or simply wondering what’s possible, this episode is full of reassurance, practical ideas and hope.Put the kettle on and prepare to be UnPickled.💛 Resources & LinksFollow and Find out more about Jean head to @jeanmccarthy_writesOr buy her book UnPickled Prepare to be Alcohol-Free: Insights and Tips to Ease the Transition - herehttps://amzn.asia/d/02iVCTtz📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted SundaysA brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.👉 https://amzn.asia/d/0aZ69GpKVic's book 'Mumming - A year of Trying (and Failing) to be a better parent - https://amzn.asia/d/0bUJTS2W🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes👉 www.soberawkward.com🫖 Join The Cuppa CommunityOur private, supportive online space for sober folk👉 www.cuppa.community📘 Get the Sober Awkward GuideOur downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.👉 The Sober Awkward Guide📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:Instagram: @soberawkwardTikTok: @soberawkwardFacebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women

The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - I scream... and she lets go - By Lisa Every Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you.Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol.Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone.Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants.So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community.💛 Resources & Links📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted SundaysA brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic.👉 www.soberawkward.com🫖 Join The Cuppa CommunityOur private, supportive online space for sober folk👉 www.cuppa.community📘 Get the Sober Awkward GuideOur downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.👉 The Sober Awkward Guide📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:Instagram: @soberawkwardTikTok: @soberawkwardFacebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCESIf anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone.🇦🇺 AustraliaNational Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline📞 1800 250 015 (24/7)https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-serviceLifeline📞 13 11 14 (24/7)https://www.lifeline.org.auHello Sunday Morning / Daybreakhttps://hellosundaymorning.orghttps://daybreakapp.com.auClean Slate Clinichttps://www.cleanslateclinic.com🇬🇧 United KingdomDrinkline📞 0300 123 1110https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/Alcohol Change UKhttps://alcoholchange.org.ukWe Are With Youhttps://www.wearewithyou.org.uk🌍 InternationalAlcoholics Anonymoushttps://www.aa.orgSMART Recoveryhttps://www.smartrecovery.org💬 A Gentle ReminderIf you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference.

Want to give up drinking but have no idea where to start? You're in the right place!Everyone tells you sobriety starts on day one. It doesn't. It actually starts before that, in the boring, unglamorous groundwork nobody really talks about. The stuff that happens quietly in the weeks before you ever have a proper "sober day."In this episode, I sit down with Jean McCarthy to talk about that exact groundwork, starting with the big one: choosing your why. It sounds simple. It isn't. Because a why like "I'm doing this for the kids," as noble and understandable as it sounds, can actually be one of the shakiest foundations you can build a sobriety on. It's a why that lives outside you, and when things get hard (and they will), a why that isn't fully your own can be the first thing to crack.We talk about what a sturdier why can look like instead, and the small, practical, almost boring shifts that quietly build a foundation strong enough to hold you when the cravings hit. Things like rearranging your furniture so the sofa doesn't automatically mean "wine o'clock." Creating yourself a proper sober nook, somewhere in the house that's just yours, with nothing to do with a bottle. Taking the wine glasses out of the house completely, so the decision isn't sitting there waiting to be made every single evening. And maybe the hardest shift of all, starting to like yourself again before you feel like you've "earned" it.Jean also gets really honest about her own fears going into this. Including the very real, very human worry that her husband might not want a sober wife. She talks about the moment that fear finally lifted, when she realised that a sober wife is so much better than a dead wife, because if she's honest, that's genuinely the direction things were heading.Oh, and they talk about how their mutual stumpy fingers actually represent their drinking stories quite well!!!So, get comfy and let's get prepared for sober life. Note - We chatted for way too long, so this is Part 1. (Part 2 in-coming with loads more juicy prep tips)💛 Resources & LinksFollow and Find out more about Jean head to @jeanmccarthy_writesOr buy her book UnPickled Prepare to be Alcohol-Free: Insights and Tips to Ease the Transition - herehttps://amzn.asia/d/02iVCTtz📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted SundaysA brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.👉 https://amzn.asia/d/0aZ69GpKVic's book 'Mumming - A year of Trying (and Failing) to be a better parent - https://amzn.asia/d/0bUJTS2W🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes👉 www.soberawkward.com🫖 Join The Cuppa CommunityOur private, supportive online space for sober folk👉 www.cuppa.community📘 Get the Sober Awkward GuideOur downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.👉 The Sober Awkward Guide📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:Instagram: @soberawkwardTikTok: @soberawkwardFacebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women

The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - Bodies Change - By ErinEvery Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you.Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol.Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone.Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants.So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community.💛 Resources & Links📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted SundaysA brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic.👉 www.soberawkward.com🫖 Join The Cuppa CommunityOur private, supportive online space for sober folk👉 www.cuppa.community📘 Get the Sober Awkward GuideOur downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.👉 The Sober Awkward Guide📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:Instagram: @soberawkwardTikTok: @soberawkwardFacebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCESIf anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone.🇦🇺 AustraliaNational Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline📞 1800 250 015 (24/7)https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-serviceLifeline📞 13 11 14 (24/7)https://www.lifeline.org.auHello Sunday Morning / Daybreakhttps://hellosundaymorning.orghttps://daybreakapp.com.auClean Slate Clinichttps://www.cleanslateclinic.com🇬🇧 United KingdomDrinkline📞 0300 123 1110https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/Alcohol Change UKhttps://alcoholchange.org.ukWe Are With Youhttps://www.wearewithyou.org.uk🌍 InternationalAlcoholics Anonymoushttps://www.aa.orgSMART Recoveryhttps://www.smartrecovery.org💬 A Gentle ReminderIf you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference.

For many LGBTQ+ people, the pub wasn’t just somewhere to grab a drink—it was one of the few places where they could safely be themselves. For decades, bars and clubs became places of acceptance, community and belonging. But when alcohol becomes woven into your identity and social life, what happens when you decide to stop drinking?For many people, giving up alcohol means changing what they drink. For many LGBTQ+ people, it can also mean changing where they belong.This week, Victoria sits down with Karl Considine, public speaker, advocate and Ambassador for Alcohol Change UK. Karl has become one of the leading voices in the UK’s alcohol-free movement, using honesty, humour and lived experience to challenge old ideas about sobriety. Karl is helping a new generation build confidence, connection, and identity without alcohol. Through his work, he has helped show that a life without alcohol isn’t about missing out—it’s about creating more connection, joy and possibility.Together, they explore the powerful relationship between booze and queer culture. They discuss why LGBTQ+ communities experience higher rates of alcohol and substance misuse than the general population, the role discrimination and minority stress can play, and why creating alcohol-free spaces has never been more important.It’s an honest conversation about identity, connection, loneliness, community and what it means to build a life where you don’t need alcohol to feel like you belong. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or simply curious about why our relationship with alcohol is shaped by so much more than willpower, this episode is full of compassion, insight and plenty of laughs along the way.💛 Resources & LinksFollow and Find out more about Karl head to @karlconsidine📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted SundaysA brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.👉 https://amzn.asia/d/0aZ69GpKVic's book 'Mumming - A year of Trying (and Failing) to be a better parent - https://amzn.asia/d/0bUJTS2W🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes👉 www.soberawkward.com🫖 Join The Cuppa CommunityOur private, supportive online space for sober folk👉 www.cuppa.community📘 Get the Sober Awkward GuideOur downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.👉 The Sober Awkward Guide📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:Instagram: @soberawkwardTikTok: @soberawkwardFacebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women

The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials -Finally Meeting Myself - By AllysonEvery Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you.Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol.Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone.Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants.So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community.💛 Resources & Links📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted SundaysA brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic.👉 www.soberawkward.com🫖 Join The Cuppa CommunityOur private, supportive online space for sober folk👉 www.cuppa.community📘 Get the Sober Awkward GuideOur downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.👉 The Sober Awkward Guide📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:Instagram: @soberawkwardTikTok: @soberawkwardFacebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCESIf anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone.🇦🇺 AustraliaNational Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline📞 1800 250 015 (24/7)https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-serviceLifeline📞 13 11 14 (24/7)https://www.lifeline.org.auHello Sunday Morning / Daybreakhttps://hellosundaymorning.orghttps://daybreakapp.com.auClean Slate Clinichttps://www.cleanslateclinic.com🇬🇧 United KingdomDrinkline📞 0300 123 1110https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/Alcohol Change UKhttps://alcoholchange.org.ukWe Are With Youhttps://www.wearewithyou.org.uk🌍 InternationalAlcoholics Anonymoushttps://www.aa.orgSMART Recoveryhttps://www.smartrecovery.org💬 A Gentle ReminderIf you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference.

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic chats to Ben Gibbs from The Sober Boozers Club about the rapidly changing world of alcohol-free beer and whether pub culture can survive a generation that’s drinking less, drinking differently, or not drinking at all.Because let’s face it, Vic used to be the kind of customer pubs loved. These days Vic walks into a pub, orders one alcohol-free beer, has a lovely chat, and leaves. Financially speaking, she’s not exactly the customer she used to be.So what does this shift mean for the hospitality industry? Can pubs, breweries and bars survive if people are only ordering one or two drinks instead of six? Is the alcohol-free movement a genuine revolution or just a passing trend? And why are so many younger people choosing not to drink in the first place?Vic and Ben also tackle one of the most debated topics in sobriety: alcohol-free beer. Is it a useful tool or a dangerous game? Should people in early sobriety avoid it altogether? What if it triggers cravings? Why does it work brilliantly for some people and not for others?Most importantly, Ben shares his experience of trying to keep all the things he loved about his old social life, the pub chats, the mates, the laughs, and the sense of belonging, while quietly removing the alcohol from the equation.Turns out, getting sober doesn’t always mean changing your entire personality. Sometimes it just means changing what’s in your glass.A fascinating conversation about identity, friendship, changing drinking culture, and whether the future of the pub might be a lot less boozy than we ever imagined.💛 Resources & LinksFollow and Find out more about Ben here - Ben Gibbs (@sober_boozers_club)📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted SundaysA brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.👉 https://amzn.asia/d/0aZ69GpKVic's book 'Mumming - A year of Trying (and Failing) to be a better parent - https://amzn.asia/d/0bUJTS2W🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes👉 www.soberawkward.com🫖 Join The Cuppa CommunityOur private, supportive online space for sober folk👉 www.cuppa.community📘 Get the Sober Awkward GuideOur downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.👉 The Sober Awkward Guide📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:Instagram: @soberawkwardTikTok: @soberawkwardFacebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women

The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - Alcohol, Motherhood and Me - By EmilyEvery Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you.Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol.Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone.Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants.So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community.💛 Resources & Links📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted SundaysA brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic.👉 www.soberawkward.com🫖 Join The Cuppa CommunityOur private, supportive online space for sober folk👉 www.cuppa.community📘 Get the Sober Awkward GuideOur downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.👉 The Sober Awkward Guide📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:Instagram: @soberawkwardTikTok: @soberawkwardFacebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCESIf anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone.🇦🇺 AustraliaNational Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline📞 1800 250 015 (24/7)https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-serviceLifeline📞 13 11 14 (24/7)https://www.lifeline.org.auHello Sunday Morning / Daybreakhttps://hellosundaymorning.orghttps://daybreakapp.com.auClean Slate Clinichttps://www.cleanslateclinic.com🇬🇧 United KingdomDrinkline📞 0300 123 1110https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/Alcohol Change UKhttps://alcoholchange.org.ukWe Are With Youhttps://www.wearewithyou.org.uk🌍 InternationalAlcoholics Anonymoushttps://www.aa.orgSMART Recoveryhttps://www.smartrecovery.org💬 A Gentle ReminderIf you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference.