One for the Road: The Quit Drinking Podcast

*Trigger warning-This show has discussions around suicide*

In this powerful episode of One For The Road, Dave is joined by Emma Walsh, who shares an incredibly open and honest account of her relationship with alcohol, the experiences that shaped her from childhood, and how sobriety has helped her begin discovering who she really is.
Emma’s story begins with an unconventional childhood. After her parents separated when she was young, she moved away with her father, changed schools repeatedly and even had her name changed from Emma to her middle name, Natalie. Looking back, she reflects on how those early experiences affected her sense of identity and contributed to a lifelong feeling of being an outsider.
Alcohol entered Emma’s life in her teens. Although her drinking initially appeared social, she quickly fell in love not with the taste, but with how alcohol made her feel: braver, funnier, more confident and seemingly invincible. Over time, drinking became increasingly intertwined with her identity and her ability to feel comfortable socially.
After meeting her husband Robbie and building a successful career, Emma moved to Dubai in 2017. On paper, life looked exciting and successful, but underneath she was struggling with intense imposter syndrome, anxiety and periods of depression. Drinking at home became normal and escalated rapidly, with Emma sometimes drinking an entire box of wine in an evening.
Motherhood brought further challenges. Emma stopped drinking during both pregnancies, something she initially used as proof that she couldn't possibly have a problem. But after giving birth, returning to demanding jobs after just 70 days of maternity leave and experiencing postnatal depression, alcohol quickly returned as her way of coping. At one of her lowest points, Emma experienced suicidal thoughts while driving to work and recognised that she urgently needed help. She contacted her GP, began antidepressants and started therapy — a relationship she credits with saving her life.
After unexpectedly losing a new job opportunity, Emma and her family returned to England. Her drinking continued to escalate until she was regularly consuming two and sometimes three bottles of wine a night while still working and raising two young children. Every morning came with promises to stop, only for the internal negotiations to begin again by lunchtime.
The death of a close friend, embarrassing incidents at work and increasingly risky behaviour provided warning signs, but Emma still struggled to recognise alcohol itself as the problem. The breakthrough finally came when her friend Jamie told her she had stopped drinking and encouraged Emma to “do the work” — to read the books, educate herself and listen to sobriety podcasts.
Emma began at episode one and immersed herself in the stories of previous guests. Hearing other people describe behaviours she recognised in herself finally made the penny drop: she had a problem with alcohol. Their honesty also gave her permission to start talking honestly about her own experiences.
Now celebrating two years sober, Emma describes a life with dramatically less anxiety and far more emotional space to work through the things alcohol once allowed her to avoid. Sobriety hasn't been completely straightforward — she candidly discusses transferring addictive behaviours to food and vaping — but she has learned to approach herself with greater compassion rather than punishment.
At the heart of Emma’s recovery is something much bigger than simply not drinking: learning who she is, setting boundaries, letting go of people-pleasing and beginning to genuinely like herself.

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

What happens when you've been sober for eight years and suddenly realise you're still wearing the same mask you had when you drank?
In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, Dave welcomes Vic back to the podcast to explore a surprising turning point in long-term sobriety. Together they discuss people-pleasing, identity, boundaries, parenting, ADHD, perimenopause, mummy wine culture, and why recovery isn't a finish line—it's the beginning of truly getting to know yourself.
This episode is a reminder that sobriety doesn't magically fix life, but it does give us the chance to face it with clarity, honesty and compassion. Whether you're newly sober, sober curious or years into recovery, you'll find comfort in knowing that growth continues long after the last drink.

In This Episode
The hidden exhaustion of "performing" sobriety
Learning to stop people-pleasing and start setting boundaries
Why friendships often change after quitting alcohol
Parenting without alcohol and breaking generational cycles
The impact of perimenopause and possible ADHD on recovery
Why shame keeps so many people trapped in drinking
The truth about mummy wine culture and alcohol marketing
Learning to enjoy socialising without alcohol
Why recovery is about discovering who you really are
Key Takeaways
Sobriety is the start of personal growth—not the end.
You don't have to prove you can do everything you did while drinking.
Boundaries are essential for protecting your recovery.
It's okay to outgrow friendships that no longer serve you.
Alcohol often masks deeper issues like trauma, ADHD, anxiety or people-pleasing.
Playing the tape forward is one of the most powerful tools for staying sober.
Recovery isn't about becoming perfect—it's about becoming authentic.
Small daily habits often create the biggest long-term changes.

Topics Discussed
Long-term sobriety
Identity after alcohol
Recovery beyond abstinence
People pleasing
Childhood experiences
Boundaries
Social anxiety
Parenting sober
Mummy wine culture
Perimenopause
ADHD
Therapy
Self-worth
Emotional regulation
Friendship changes
Shame and guilt
Recovery tools
Sober retreats
Who This Episode Is For
If you:

Feel like sobriety has changed your friendships
Struggle with people-pleasing
Wonder why recovery still feels challenging years later
Are navigating parenting without alcohol
Feel overwhelmed by social situations
Want a more honest conversation about long-term sobriety
...this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned
The "Traffic Light" approach to social situations
Playing the tape forward
HALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Attachment styles
Therapy and self-reflection
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Silent discos and sober retreats as ways to reconnect with yourself

Final Thoughts
Recovery isn't about becoming someone new—it's about uncovering who you've always been underneath the alcohol.
This conversation is an honest reminder that even years into sobriety, there is still room for growth, healing and self-discovery. The journey isn't linear, but every step forward creates a life that's richer, calmer and more authentic.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could benefit from hearing that sobriety isn't about perfection—it's about progress.
If you enjoy One For The Road, then click follow to be notified of the release of our next episode.
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.

https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services
https://nacoa.org.uk/
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some stories stay with you long after you've heard them........This is one of them.
In this deeply honest conversation on One For The Road, Peter shares the extraordinary journey that led him from a childhood surrounded by alcoholism, addiction and chaos to finding lasting freedom through sobriety. Growing up in West London, Peter experienced neglect, trauma, poverty and instability from an early age. As the years passed, he built what appeared to be a successful life, great career, nice cars, marriage and family;But beneath the surface, unresolved childhood pain quietly shaped every decision he made.
Alcohol eventually became more than a drink. It became an escape.

Peter opens up about how drinking masked decades of emotional wounds, the collapse of two marriages, living behind carefully constructed "masks", and the moment he realised that stopping drinking wasn't the end of the journey, it was the beginning of healing.
This episode is a powerful reminder that recovery isn't simply about putting down the bottle. It's about rebuilding your identity, understanding your past and learning to live with honesty, connection and purpose.

In this episode we discuss:
Growing up in a home affected by alcoholism and addiction
The hidden impact of childhood trauma
How neglect shapes self-worth and identity
Living behind masks and becoming the person you think others want
Why success, money and material possessions couldn't fix the pain
Alcohol as a coping mechanism rather than the real problem
The collapse of relationships through addiction
The difficult first year of sobriety
Why unresolved trauma often resurfaces after quitting alcohol
Finding healing through connection, journaling and honest conversations
Becoming the father he always wanted to be
Why life genuinely gets better without alcohol

Key Takeaways
Childhood experiences can influence our adult behaviours far more than we realise.
Alcohol often becomes a solution to emotional pain rather than the root problem.
Sobriety is about much more than quitting drinking—it's about learning who you really are.
Healing from trauma takes time, patience and honest self-reflection.
It's never too late to change your life or repair relationships.
Recovery isn't about becoming perfect—it's about becoming authentic.

Resources Mentioned
What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey & Dr Bruce Perry
Journaling as a recovery tool
Peer support and sober communities
Trauma-informed recovery

If you enjoyed this episode please consider following the podcast, leaving a review and sharing this episode with someone who may need to hear it.
Recovery is possible, and every conversation helps break the stigma around alcohol, trauma and mental health.

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/

Thank you for listening to One For The Road.

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

What happens when you realise alcohol has become more than just a social habit?

In this episode of One for the Road, Harriet shares her powerful journey to six months sober, reflecting on the experiences that shaped her relationship with alcohol and the decision to embrace an alcohol-free life. From a childhood marked by family illness and divorce to becoming a mother while navigating postpartum depression, Harriet speaks openly about the emotional challenges that led her to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. Receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life helped her understand years of masking, overwhelm and drinking to fit in.

Together, Dave and Harriet explore how motherhood, mental health, and the normalisation of mummy wine culture can make it difficult to recognise when drinking has become a problem. They also discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced unhealthy drinking habits and why building a supportive recovery community has been essential to Harriet's sobriety.

Whether you're sober curious, thinking about giving up alcohol, supporting someone in recovery, or simply interested in honest conversations about addiction and mental health, this episode offers hope, encouragement and practical insight.

In This Episode
Harriet's journey to six months of sobriety
Growing up with childhood adversity
Living with undiagnosed ADHD
Alcohol as a coping mechanism
Motherhood, postpartum depression and isolation
The reality of mummy drinking culture
How COVID-19 changed drinking habits
Why stopping drinking transformed Harriet's life
Building confidence without alcohol
Finding purpose through recovery
What You'll Learn

This conversation explores:
Why alcohol problems often develop gradually rather than overnight.
The connection between ADHD and alcohol use.
How social expectations can influence drinking behaviour.
The impact of postpartum mental health on substance use.
The importance of self-awareness in recovery.
Why community support plays a vital role in long-term sobriety.
How life can improve after choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle

This episode is for anyone interested in:
Sobriety and alcohol recovery
Women's recovery journeys
Mental health and wellbeing
ADHD in adults
Motherhood and alcohol
Sober curiosity
Addiction recovery stories
Personal development and resilience

Harriet reminds us that recovery isn't about perfection—it's about understanding yourself and making choices that support your wellbeing.

One for the Road is a podcast exploring sobriety, alcohol recovery, mental health and the real stories behind giving up drinking. Through honest conversations with guests from all walks of life, the podcast challenges drinking culture while sharing practical advice, lived experiences and inspiration for anyone seeking a healthier relationship with alcohol.

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

This week on One For The Road, Dave is joined by Liberty X star Michelle Heaton for one of the rawest and most brutally honest conversations of the series.
From pop fame, red carpets and chart success to addiction, intervention, rehab and rock bottom — Michelle opens up about the reality behind the headlines. She speaks candidly about living with the BRCA gene, undergoing a double mastectomy and hysterectomy, the identity crisis that followed, and how alcohol and cocaine slowly took over her life.

Michelle shares the terrifying depths of addiction, drinking vodka at 7am, hiding bottles around the house, pushing away the people she loved most and reaching a point where she genuinely believed she was going to die.

Now sober and rebuilding her life one day at a time, Michelle talks about recovery, boundaries, motherhood, self-worth and finding hope after complete chaos.
This episode is fearless, heartbreaking, funny in places and deeply inspiring — a conversation about survival, sobriety and what happens when you finally decide you want to live.

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, and links for Michelle.
https://www.instagram.com/wonderwomanshel/
https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services
https://nacoa.org.uk/
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/
Show producer- Daniella Attanasio
Instagram - @Daniellattanasio

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