45. You Can Step Off The Merry-Go-Round with Victoria Vanstone of Sober Awkward

45. You Can Step Off The Merry-Go-Round with Victoria Vanstone of Sober Awkward

What happens when you say goodbye to alcohol and finally discover who was hiding behind the party animal? In this episode, the hilariously honest host of the Sober Awkward podcast Vic Vanstone discusses sobriety, motherhood, self-acceptance, and finding joy and purpose without alcohol. Vic shares how years of binge drinking and being the party animal left her with an identity tangled in alcohol, hangxiety and risky behavior. She outlines how ultimately motherhood left her to question her behavior and eventually led her to seek help. She opens up about the moment she realized she could get off the merry-go-round of drinking and how therapy helped her begin rebuilding trust in herself. This episode covers the pressures of alcohol culture, navigating sobriety as a parent, finding community, and rediscovering creativity, confidence, and authenticity in sobriety. It also explores why sober life can be surprisingly fun, from dancing without alcohol to embracing the awkward moments that make us human. This conversation is full of laughter, honesty, and hope for anyone who has ever wondered what life might look like beyond alcohol. Here are all of the ways to hang out with Vic (I told you she was a busy woman!): Follow allong on IG: @drunkmummysobermummy and @soberawkward Join Vic (and Sober Dave!) on a Sober Awkward Retreat: https://www.soberawkward.com/retreats [https://www.soberawkward.com/retreats] Listen to Sober Awkward: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sober-awkward/id1565657975 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sober-awkward/id1565657975] Buy her book (audiobook also available): "A Thousand Wasted Sundays" https://www.soberawkward.com/store [https://www.soberawkward.com/store/p/4k7l3u23pmfobs71gi13gx2dje5cm6] As always, follow @dryhumorpodcast on IG

44. JUST THE TIP: What Is Sobriety Preparing You For?

Sobriety doesn't just change your relationship with alcohol – it changes your ability to respond to life. Long before you know why you'll need it, sobriety is quietly strengthening you. This episode dives into the ways sobriety prepares us for the challenges and opportunities life will bring our way. From developing emotional strength to expanding our ability to cope, connect, and grow, sobriety often gives us tools for situations we never could have anticipated. The work may not always feel obvious in the moment, but looking back, it's often clear that sobriety was preparing us all along. If you're wondering whether your growth in sobriety is adding up to something, struggling to trust the process, or looking for a new perspective on the challenges of sobriety, this episode is for you. Follow @dryhumorpodcast on IG.

43. What Sobriety Carried Me Through with Lindsey

You never know what sobriety is preparing you for. In this episode, Lindsey shares the story of how a quiet curiosity about life without alcohol led her to stop drinking long before she realized how much she would need that decision. She listened to the voice telling her that alcohol was no longer adding anything meaningful to her life. It left her with a question she couldn't ignore: what if there's more to a life without it? In the years that followed, sobriety carried her through pregnancy, motherhood, the isolation of the pandemic, and the loss of both of her parents. Lindsey opens up about growing up around alcohol, navigating grief, finding support through therapy, family, and faith, and learning how to face life's hardest moments without alcohol. This conversation is a powerful reminder that sobriety isn't just about changing how you drink – it's about discovering what you're capable of carrying when life gets hard. Follow @dryhumorpodcast on IG.

42. JUST THE TIP: How the Hell Do You "Find Yourself" in Sobriety?

Sobriety doesn't magically hand you a new identity. It just gives you the space to finally figure out who you are without all the noise. This episode explores the uncomfortable but necessary process of rebuilding a sense of self after alcohol. Through five practical shifts, the conversation dives into the difference between stimulation and fulfillment, why getting quiet can actually be a catalyst for growth, and how reconnecting with childhood interests can help uncover parts of yourself that existed long before drinking became part of your life. If you've been feeling disconnected from yourself, wondering what actually fulfills you, or trying to figure out who you are without alcohol, this episode is for you. Follow @dryhumorpodcast on IG.

41. The Void Alcohol Couldn't Fill with Kev @shiftwithswindells

What happens when the party lifestyle that once felt exciting starts quietly destroying your mental health? In this episode, Kev shares how years of substance use, escapism, and unprocessed trauma slowly eroded his sense of self and left him searching for something more. What began as partying and numbing eventually became a cycle of loneliness, anxiety, and emotional disconnection that he could no longer ignore. Kev opens up about the turning points that led him to sobriety and how it forced him to confront the deeper issues beneath his drinking and use. He shares how tools like running, yoga, breathwork, and nervous system healing helped him rebuild his life and create a version of sobriety rooted in self-discovery instead of deprivation. This conversation explores addiction, mental health, trauma, recovery, and what it really means to build a life you no longer want to escape from. To learn more about Kev's alcohol-free coaching, or to receive his newsletter, follow him on instagram @shiftwithswindells. As always, follow @dryhumorpodcast on IG.