My guest this week is British Marketing Guru – Teresa Heath Wareing

• Teresa struggled to answer when I asked her when she started drinking – that’s because she felt that alcohol was always there . Drinking was normalized in her family - and ever-present in both celebrations and crises.
• From high-flying marketing roles to becoming a solo business owner, drinking remained central – even becoming part of her identity – G & T with T was a regular feature!
• Despite appearing very functional, Teresa was secretly struggling. A pivotal moment came when she was too hungover to say goodbye to her daughter on a Monday morning.
• Years of therapy helped her gradually acknowledge her dependence. She tracked over 100 units of alcohol in a week – a shocking realization especially when the UK low risk limits are only 14!
• Like many of us, she tried to control her drinking but found that moderation was impossible. Her husband drank the same amount but didn’t seem to have a problem – he had an off switch whereas Teresa didn’t!
• Getting sober in 2023 was the hardest thing she’s ever done. Her struggle was a long one and It took nearly a year before she began to feel good again.
• Teresa kept her sobriety private at first, worried how it would affect her brand. Eventually, she shared her story through a 15-episode podcast: Losing Part of Me.
• Her benefits of sobriety included
  • More energy and focus – leading to greater business success.
  • Improved relationships, especially with her husband.
  • She began to love herself again Top Sobriety Tips:
    • Treat sobriety as your main project.
    • Be patient – healing takes time.
    • Replace drinking with meaningful goals or passions (e.g. her garden).
    • Join a community for support and accountability.

Teresa’s Message to listeners: “If you’re listening to this, that’s the sign you need.

Sobriety is hard – but joining a community will get you through...

• If you're looking for a community then try Tribe Sober!

More info

• Tools & Resources in Tribe Sober
• Member Journey Course (7 modules: psychology, biology, neuroscience)
• Members Vault with searchable tips and content
• Daily check-ins, trackers, 5 Zooms meetings a week – to suit all timezones Personal guidance from coaches, ambassadors, and cheerleaders

Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE

• To access our website click HERE
• If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
• If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

Help us to spread the word!

We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can join our private Facebook group HERE

Thank you for listening!

My guest this week is Deb from Kentucky – aka Mocktail Mom

This was her second time on the show - click here to listen to the first interview

In this episode:-

• Deb quit drinking on December 31, 2020.
• She originally took a break to evaluate her drinking and felt so good she just kept going!
• Deb was a Late Starter and only started drinking heavily in her 40s during after her divorce.
• Like many of us she was a Gray Area Drinker: She often found herself drinking more than she had intended, particularly when she was alone on weekends without her kids.
• Debs Turning Point: came when she realized that alcohol was taking up too much mental space
• I loved her analogy of the ticker tape of breaking news that we see on tv – Deb felt she had an alcohol related ticker tape constantly turning in the background of her mind!
• She joined a sobriety challenge in January 2021 and community did the trick
• It was a breakthrough for Deb when she finally accepted that moderation wasn’t working for her
• Like many of us she discovered it was easier to stop completely altogether than to try to control it.
• This is because alcohol changes our brain chemistry – once we have crossed the line into dependence just one drink can trigger intense cravings
• I wish someone had explained that to me before I spent 10 long years trying (and failing) to control my drinking!
• Deb's Top 3 Benefits of Sobriety:
  • Freedom from ticker tape mental chatter about alcohol.
  • No more waking up with guilt and shame.
  • Confidence and trust in herself (she gave that example of being able to collect her daughters if they called her in the evening.)
• Mocktail Mom Platform:
  • Deb shares mocktail recipes and alcohol-free fun on Instagram and TikTok.
  • Created a mocktail recipe book: The Happiest Hour.
  • Learn more via her website mocktailmom.com
• Both Deb and myself are breast cancer survivors. We didn’t know about the alcohol-cancer link when we were drinking so are keen to let as many women as possible understand that alcohol is linked to 7 types of cancer
• Debs Sobriety Advice:
  • Don’t think in terms of “forever.” Take it one day or one event at a time.
  • Don’t worry about future events (e.g., weddings or trips).
  • Celebrate any alcohol-free progress; it all adds up.

• Her last tip was to get support—having a community made all the difference for her
• If you're looking for a community then try Tribe Sober!

More info

• Tools & Resources in Tribe Sober
• Member Journey Course (7 modules: psychology, biology, neuroscience)
• Members Vault with searchable tips and content
• Daily check-ins, trackers, 5 Zooms meetings a week – to suit all timezones Personal guidance from coaches, ambassadors, and cheerleaders

Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE

• To access our website click HERE
• If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
• If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

Help us to spread the word!

We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can join our private Facebook group HERE

Thank you for listening!

My guest this week is Sobriety Coach Rachael Shephard, mom of 2 young boys and author of "Sober Mama"

• In this episode:- Early Drinking Years
  • Rachael always drank to excess, experienced frequent blackouts, and never had an off-switch.
  • Used to look forward to drinking like a child anticipates Christmas.
• The Turning Point
  • By her late 30s, Rachel felt exhausted and sick and tired… of feeling sick and tired
  • A boozy holiday made her realize she needed to stop—shaking in the morning was her wake-up call.
• The Role of Motherhood
  • Drinking increased after having children—became a way to cope with stress.
  • Once sober, found motherhood became easier, with more energy, patience, and connection.
• Challenges in Early Sobriety
  • First few weeks involved sugar cravings, extreme fatigue, and boredom.
  • Found a "pink cloud" of euphoria around two weeks, followed by a flat period of low motivation.
  • I loved her story about struggling to find something that was “fun” in early sobriety – so she spent her time organizing and decluttering her home so that life would be easier when she began to feel better
• Mindset Shift
  • Realized alcohol was the cause of her anxiety, not the cure.
  • Rejected the “mommy juice” culture and recognized societal normalization of addiction.
• Sober Coaching & Writing
  • I loved Rachael’s sobriety timeline which she uses as a coaching framework.
  • She has written a book called “Sober Mama” to centralize tools, stories, and support in one place.
• Advice for Others
  • Suggests people try sobriety for just two weeks and take daily photos to see the transformation.
  • Like us at Tribe Sober Rachael avoids the word "forever"—encouraging Sober Stretches of 30- or 90-days
• Where to Find Rachel
  • Her book is available in UK bookstores and on Amazon.
  • Coaching and resources at sobermama.co.uk

More info

• Tools & Resources in Tribe Sober
• Member Journey Course (7 modules: psychology, biology, neuroscience)
• Members Vault with searchable tips and content
• Daily check-ins, trackers, 5 Zooms meetings a week – to suit all timezones Personal guidance from coaches, ambassadors, and cheerleaders

Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE

• To access our website click HERE
• If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
• If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

Help us to spread the word!

We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can join our private Facebook group HERE

Thank you for listening!