The Sober Seat

Alcohol, Drugs & Toxic Men | How Dissociation and Survival Mode Turned an Addict Into an Author

This week on The Sober Seat Pod, in Part One of a Two Part Episode. Bernadette Francis shares the reality behind alcohol, drugs, and toxic relationships, and how years spent in survival mode slowly blurred into addiction, dissociation, and emotional shutdown. What looked like a fast-paced, party-filled lifestyle on the outside was actually a cycle of coping, numbing, and trying to survive internal chaos. She opens up about how dissociation became a normal state of being, how substance use fitted into that pattern, and how toxic relationships reinforced it all. This episode explores how addiction is often not the starting point, but a response to emotional overwhelm, trauma patterns, and survival mechanisms that go unrecognised for years. We also follow the turning point, the slow awareness that something had to change, and how that same lived experience eventually became the foundation for finding voice, identity, and becoming an author. In this episode, we cover: • Dissociation and emotional numbness as survival responses • Alcohol and drug use as coping mechanisms • Toxic relationship patterns and emotional dependency • Living in survival mode and losing sense of identity • The hidden link between trauma and addiction • The shift from self-destruction to self-awareness • How lived experience can be transformed into purpose and storytelling This conversation sheds light on the quieter, often invisible side of addiction, the part that starts long before anyone notices there’s a problem. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from yourself, stuck in cycles you can’t explain, or like you’ve been surviving more than living, this episode is for you. So, get comfy. Pull up a chair. Come sit with us. This is The Sober Seat 🎧✨ New episodes every Wednesday at 8PM. Make sure you follow The Sober Seat and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Where to find us on Socials @aish_thesoberseat @thesoberseatpod @bernadettefrancis_

Alcohol Alternative Spirals Into A Kratom Addiction | 12 Bottle a Day Feel Free Addiction

This week on The Sober Seat Podcast, Jasmine shares the truth behind her experience with Feel Free Tonic — the viral “wellness” drink containing kratom that she says quickly turned from a sobriety aid into a hidden addiction. What started as a small blue bottle sold in gas stations and wellness stores became something she relied on every single day. From withdrawals and secrecy to isolation and dependency, Jasmine opens up about how quickly something marketed as “natural” began taking over her life. In this episode, we unpack the growing controversy surrounding Feel Free, the wider conversations around kratom addiction, and why more people online are speaking out about their experiences. This conversation explores the reality of addiction that doesn’t always look dangerous from the outside, the stigma surrounding “legal” substances, and how easily wellness culture can blur the lines between healing and dependency. We talk about: • Feel Free Tonic and kratom explained • Hidden addiction and dependency • Withdrawal, secrecy, and isolation • Sobriety and substance replacement • Wellness culture and addiction concerns • Recovery, honesty, and finding hope again If you’ve seen the little blue bottles online or in your local convenience store, this is a conversation you need to hear. So, pull up a chair & come sit with us. 🪑✨ This is The Sober Seat. New episodes every Wednesday at 7PM 🎙️

Drug Addiction & Psychosis | The Cocaine, Alcohol & Stripper Lifestyle Behind It All

This week on The Sober Seat Pod, Alice shares the reality behind the party lifestyle, the stripping industry, and the dangerous cycle of cocaine and alcohol addiction that slowly led her into self-destruction. What looked glamorous from the outside was masking chaos behind closed doors. From normalising heavy partying and substance use within nightlife culture to losing herself completely in addiction, Alice opens up about the emotional toll, the isolation, and the moment she realised something had to change. This episode is an honest conversation about addiction, survival, shame, recovery, and rebuilding your identity after rock bottom. In this episode, we cover: • The reality behind the glamour of the stripping industry • How partying culture normalised cocaine and alcohol misuse • Addiction, escapism, and emotional numbness • The impact addiction had on mental health and self-worth • Shame, secrecy, and living a double life • Hitting rock bottom and choosing sobriety • Healing, recovery, and rebuilding life after addiction This conversation shines a light on the parts of addiction people rarely talk about openly, especially within industries where substance use becomes part of the culture. If you’re struggling with cocaine addiction, alcohol dependency, party lifestyle burnout, or navigating your own recovery journey, this episode is for you. So, get comfy. Pull up a Chair. Come Sit with us. This is The Sober Seat 🎧✨ New episodes every Wednesday at 7PM Make sure you drop The Sober Seat a follow and turn your notifications on so you never miss an episode. Where to find us on Socials ⬇️⬇️⬇️ @aish_thesoberseat @thesoberseatpod @findingwonderland3

Opiate Addiction| 100 Pills a Day | A Mothers Secret Addiction That Nearly Took Everything

Abby’s story is raw, honest, and impossible to ignore. In this episode of The Sober Seat Podcast she opens up about the lasting impact of parental abandonment, how it shaped her relationship with addiction, and the weight of shame and stigma she carried for years. From navigating motherhood while struggling, to confronting the dark realities of substance dependence, once a drug that provided confidence and "safety" Abby shares what it really looks like behind closed doors. This conversation explores the link between trauma and addiction, the toll it takes on mental health and family life, and what it takes to finally break the cycle. We talk about: • Childhood trauma and its role in addiction • Shame, stigma, and silent struggles • Motherhood and addiction • The reality of substance dependence • Mental health and recovery • Finding hope through sobriety If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns you don’t fully understand… this one will hit home. There is a way out. And this is what it can look like. So, pull up a chair & come sit with us. This is the The Sober Seat New episodes every Wednesday at 7PM

Gambling Addiction| The Silent Killer | Discovering The Truth Behind My Fathers Death

This week on The Sober Seat Podcast, Beyond The Bet (Shell) shares the heartbreaking truth about gambling addiction — the silent addiction that took her dad’s life. Often hidden behind closed doors, problem gambling and compulsive gambling can go unnoticed for years. There are no obvious physical signs, yet the impact on mental health, finances, relationships, and families can be devastating. Through this deeply personal story, we explore the reality of gambling harm — not just for the individual, but for the affected others left navigating guilt, grief, and loss. In this episode, we cover: • Why gambling addiction is known as the silent addiction • The link between gambling, mental health, and suicide • The impact of problem gambling on families and loved ones • Emotional struggles: guilt, shame, isolation • Grief after addiction-related loss • Recovery, healing, and finding support This conversation gives a voice to the affected others — the partners, children, and families living with the consequences of addiction every day. If you’re struggling with gambling addiction, supporting someone with problem gambling, or navigating grief and recovery, this episode is for you. So, get comfy. Pull up a Chair. Come Sit with us. This is The Sober Seat New episodes every Wednesday at 7PM Make sure you drop The Sober Seat a follow and turn your Notifications on so you never miss an Episode 🌱🎧🩷 Where to find us on Socials ⬇️⬇️⬇️ @aish_thesoberseat @thesoberseatpod @beyond_the_bet