One For The Road

Rejoin myself and Allie Bailey on this weeks episode of One For The Road as we catch back up on life on the other side of sobriety, and candidly chat about our experiences on both sides of the line with emotional sobriety.

Allie Bailey is an ultrarunner, award winning coach, speaker and podcaster who has run in some of the most extreme places in the world. She was the first woman to run 100 miles across frozen Lake Khövsgöl in Mongolia and to run the full length of the Panama Canal. She has crossed the inhospitable Namib Desert three times, run the length of the Outer Hebrides and completed a 1,000-mile off-road version of the classic Land’s End to John o’Groats route in just thirty days. Allie has finished over 200 marathons and ultramarathons all over the world, including the Dragons Back Race and the full Winter Spine Race, but the most remarkable thing about all of these achievements is that she accomplished many of them while battling depression and alcoholism. Although running ultimately became the vehicle that helped buy Allie the time to recover from a number of severe mental health breakdowns, it did not save her. In fact, there were times when it made her battle all the more difficult. After a seismic mental health crisis in 2021, Allie finally admitted to herself and those around her that she was an alcoholic and started her recovery. She left behind a dream career with major record labels and adventure companies and now works as a coach and author with a broad range of runners and endurance athletes, helping them unlock their full potential. In 2022, she was named as one of the most inspiring female adventurers in the UK by the Guardian, and she has appeared on numerous mainstream TV programmes including The One Show and Lorraine. In 2023 she released her first book, the award nominated and critically acclaimed memoir “There is Now Wall”. Her second book “31 Days: A Zero Bullshit Mindset Masterclass for the Modern Runner was released in February 2026. Allie lives in Yorkshire with her rescue dog, Pickle.

https://www.instagram.com/ab_runs/
https://amzn.eu/d/03O7NRTz

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/
or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/
Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice.
www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services
https://nacoa.org.uk/
Show producer- Daniella Attanasio
Instagram - @TheDaniellaMartinez
https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellamartinez/
www.instagram.com/grownuphustle
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this weeks episode of One For The Road I am joined by Steve Smith. Steve was born in Barking, Essex, and grew up in the 80s and 90s on a typical UK housing estate, where childhood meant knocking on other kids’ doors, building bike ramps and playing outside until it got dark. His parents loved a drink, but it was always harmless, social fun — garden parties, Christmas and New Year gatherings, with people often coming and going until the early hours. Alcohol was always present, yet never to a point where it was questioned, and from an early age Steve came to associate alcohol with fun. Inspired by the film Cocktail, Steve became a flair bartender and, throughout the 1990s, worked in the West End of London during a time when bartending carried a distinctly rock ’n’ roll lifestyle — long nights, heavy drinking and early starts were simply part of the culture. In 2000, he became World Flair Bartending Champion. After losing his mum to ovarian cancer, Steve ran the London Marathon in 2009 for Macmillan Cancer Support, which sparked a long-term love of endurance sport. For many years, that sat alongside a belief that alcohol wasn’t an issue — often using marathons as proof of that. In 2020, while training for his first Ironman, Steve decided to take a break from alcohol. The break stuck. Since then, he has completed five full-distance Ironman races and multiple ultramarathons, including the Winter Downs 200 — a non-stop 200-mile race across southern England in December.
Going alcohol-free didn’t change who Steve was — it changed what he believed was possible.
insta: @Steve Smith
web:www.soberilliant.com
linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-smith-5917519a/

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/
or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/
Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice.
www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services
https://nacoa.org.uk/
Show producer- Daniella Attanasio-Martinez
Instagram - @TheDaniellaMartinez
https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellamartinez/
www.instagram.com/grownuphustle

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this weeks episode of One For The Road I am joined by Sue Tickle who is proudly seven years sober. She is a mum to two sons, aged 26 and 28, and a partner to Jay, who is also sober. Together, they live in their lovely new home just outside Manchester, where Sue now enjoys a genuinely happy and fulfilling life. By profession, Sue is a Senior Manager in the NHS, a role that remains her primary career and passion. Alongside this, she runs Sober Space, a supportive social media community dedicated to sharing inspiration, encouragement, and practical advice for people living alcohol-free or aspiring to change their relationship with alcohol.
Before her mid-thirties, Sue’s relationship with alcohol was fairly minimal and what many would describe as “normal.” However, she was no stranger to the damage alcohol could cause, having grown up with a father who was a very heavy drinker for many years. In her mid-thirties, Sue’s drinking escalated dramatically after entering a relationship where alcohol became a daily habit. What began as occasional weekend drinking quickly turned into nightly drinking. Looking back, Sue recognises that a lack of confidence and a desire to fit in led her to believe she needed alcohol to be fun and accepted. Over the following five years, her drinking intensified further, progressing to multiple bottles of wine every single night. When her beloved father passed away, grief deepened her dependency on alcohol. Wine became her comfort, often reaching at least two bottles each night. Two years of blackouts, alcohol dependency, arguments, emotional distress, and regret followed. During this time, Sue’s sons witnessed the painful unravelling of their grieving, drinking mum. There were no signs of things slowing down. The turning point came in 2018 after her sister’s hen party, when Sue’s mum confronted her and told her she had ruined the celebration — and, most painfully, that she was becoming just like her father. That moment was the short, sharp shock that changed everything. Sue firmly believes that if she had not stopped drinking, she would not be alive today — and her sons would not have their mum. This belief underpins her commitment to helping anyone who asks for support in changing their relationship with alcohol. She is deeply motivated by a desire to prevent others and their families from experiencing the same devastation.
Since becoming sober, Sue has coached and mentored many people to begin, sustain, or re-ignite their sober journeys. Her work focuses on inspiring others to build rich, fulfilling sober lives through gratitude, positivity, and practical tools that genuinely support long-term change.
Sue believes sobriety is not about simply existing or feeling deprived. It is about living a meaningful, connected, and rewarding life without alcohol.
Through Sober Space, now over a year old, Sue has celebrated the first soberversaries of many members — moments she is incredibly proud of and deeply honoured to be part of.

To read more of my story over the 7 years – All Shiny and New – Sue Tickle
To join sober space Facebook Page – Sober Space | Facebook
Follow me on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sober_space_?igsh=NDFxdHFla3Q3eGxr
To subscribe to the daily coaching group for a small fee - Tickle Life Coaching

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/
or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/
Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice.
www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services
https://nacoa.org.uk/
Show producer- Daniella Attanasio-Martinez
Instagram - @TheDaniellaMartinez
https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellamartinez/
www.instagram.com/grownuphustle

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the weeks episode of One For The Road I am joined by Oisin Murphy who is one of the most accomplished jockeys of his generation, a 5 times champion Jockey who has competed at the very highest level of international horse racing. Known for his relentless drive, discipline, and precision, Oisin built a career defined by elite performance and extraordinary pressure. Behind the success, however, Oisin has spoken openly about the toll that high expectations, mental health struggles, and addiction took on his life. His journey into recovery marked a profound turning point — forcing him to confront identity, self-worth, and what it truly means to look after himself beyond results and titles. On One for the Road, Oisin shares an honest and courageous conversation about recovery, accountability, and rebuilding from the inside out. It’s a powerful reminder that true strength isn’t just about winning on the outside, but doing the deeper work required to stay well, grounded, and sober.
https://linktr.ee/oismurphy
https://www.instagram.com/oisindmurphy/?hl=en

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/
or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/
Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice.
www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services
https://nacoa.org.uk/
Show producer- Daniella Attanasio-Martinez
Instagram - @TheDaniellaMartinez
https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellamartinez/
www.instagram.com/grownuphustle
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on One For The Road I am joined by Kate Renninson. Kate’s story is a powerful reminder that recovery doesn’t always begin with rock bottom — sometimes, it begins with clarity.Growing up in a dysfunctional household, Kate experienced emotional harm from an early age. Raised by a narcissistic mother who took a dislike to her, she lived in a home marked by betrayal and instability, including her mother’s affair with her father’s brother. This environment shaped Kate’s sense of self and laid the groundwork for patterns she would carry into adulthood.Kate began drinking at around 14 years old, and alcohol quickly became a coping mechanism. For over a decade, drinking played a central role in her life, leading to many difficult and unsafe situations, frequent blackouts, and a growing disconnection from herself. When she became a mother, her drinking temporarily improved, but over time it crept back in through socially accepted “mummy wine” culture and nights out — which she often took much further than those around her.There was no dramatic rock bottom, although there were many moments that could have been. Instead, change came quietly but powerfully. At 50 years old, just six weeks after her birthday, Kate read a book that completely shifted her understanding of alcohol. Armed with new knowledge, she made the decision to quit drinking altogether in 2021 — and her life has continued to expand ever since.Now four years sober, Kate’s journey is defined by growth, courage, and joy. In 2023, having only been able to run 5K at the start of the year, she followed a training plan and went on to run the London Marathon — every single mile. She has travelled to Vietnam and Uganda, and even took a solo trip to Thailand to attend the Sober Awkward retreat, something she never would have imagined during her drinking years.Kate has since created her Detoxikated Instagram page, where she speaks openly about sobriety and helps change the perception of what a sober life can look like. She is deeply passionate about showing others that sobriety isn’t about restriction or loss — it’s about freedom, possibility, and becoming who you were always meant to be. Her story shows that it’s never too late to change, and that choosing sobriety can open doors far beyond anything alcohol ever promised.
https://www.instagram.com/detoxikated/

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/
or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/
Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice.
www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services
https://nacoa.org.uk/
Show producer- Daniella Attanasio-Martinez
Instagram - @TheDaniellaMartinez
https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellamartinez/
www.instagram.com/grownuphustle
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.