Tribe Sober - inspiring an alcohol free life!

Tribe Sober - inpiring an alcohol-free life! My guest this week is British journalist Phil Cain. Author of two books about alcohol he brings a fresh and scientific perspective to the dialogue. His books have spawned a wide range of activities, including hosting panel discussions - which is how I met Phil. In this Episode Phil explains how he was keen to write a book from a scientific perspective, rather than personal experience. He stopped drinking while he was writing his books - to better understand the "discomfort" that sobriety can bring We agreed that Sober Sprints are essential for regular drinkers - the only way to check that you are not becoming dependent If you would like to do a Sober Sprint then sign up as a Tribe Sober member to join our 30 day alcohol free challenge Phil explained that the "low risk limits" (one and a half bottles of wine/6 beers a week) are not widely known Covid has brought extra stress into everybody's life and many people are self medicating with alcohol Drinking alone has become more common in these days of the pandemic - it's so easy to drink more when you are alone We agreed that "drink sensibly" is an oxymoron as alcohol actually removes your ability to act sensibly! Phil believes that we should encourage people to look at their drinking by "selling sobriety" rather than emphasising the dangers He explained why "Sobriety Sizzles" and if there was a pill that achieved what sobriety does it would be hugely popular! Phil's books are called "Alcohol Companion" and "Alcohol for Nerds" - go to www.philcain.com to sample and purchase At our workshops we recommend treating sobriety as a "research project" - these 2 books should be an essential part of your research More info 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 [email protected] If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email [email protected] 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. Read more about our 6-step program and subscribe HERE 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 and join our Tribe Sober Club on Clubhouse. You can catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - inpiring an alcohol-free life! My guest this week is British Psychiatrist Dr Tony Rao. He is an international expert of alchohol misuse in older people - with more than 20 years experience in this area. He works with Baby Boomers in the UK who have alcohol issues - I was one of those for many years so found this conversation fascinating.. In this Episode Dr Tony explains how his interest in the field started with his parents who were both medics He believes it's essential to understand the community his patients are from if he is to understand their problems The baby boomer generation is more susceptible to alcohol abuse as we grew up with very different cultural attitudes We believed it was ok to get drunk sometimes and the "work hard, play hard" ethos was encouraged in many corporates After decades of drinking the older generation have not even tried to cut down - many of them rely on it more as they get older Dr Tony believes that the "low risk" limits for alcohol should be reduced for older people as our bodies are less resilient Extra risks for older people include falls, mixing with medications and the fact that it takes longer to metabolize We agreed that although people are living longer the emphasis should be on "living well" for the last 10 years Alcohol and Covid - not a good mix as both stimulate imflammation causing a cytokine storm which can reduce survival changes Dr Tony advises that we take the low risk limits seriously and reach out for help if we need it - there is always help. He has written a book called "Catch Me When I Fall" which dramatises the issue - available via Audible More info 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 [email protected] If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email [email protected] 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. Read more about our 7-step program and subscribe HERE 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - inpiring an alcohol-free life! Welcome to our first Tribe Sober podcast - rebranded from Goodbye to Alcohol - to Tribe Sober If you missed out on the lowdown regarding our transition from World Without Wine to Tribe Sober then you can catch up by listening to our last episode - Episode 32 My guest this week is Podcast Business Coach and Weight Loss Guru - Adam Schaeuble. His story is similar to mine in that he resolved his own issues and then went on to help others to do the same In this Episode Adam shared his personal transformation story with us We agreed that many of the methods he uses to help his community can be used in the Tribe Sober community The first step - asking for help - is the hardest - we have to put our ego to one side and reach out Adam uses a strategic approach with his clients - gets them to plan 28 days in advance and look for "danger zones" We discussed the importance of not letting a "slip up" derail you - just get back on track straight away Anchor points are essential - they give you a dopamine hit to keep going forward - at TS we have milestone badges! Adam explained the difference between motivation and inspiration - we need to be inspired if we are going to succeed If you don't feel inspired then get some coaching - if you come to the coaching session "motivated" you will leave "inspired" He shared his transformation timeline with us - and stressed the importance of finding a new purpose at the end of the journey More info 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 [email protected] If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email [email protected] 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. Read more about our 6-step program and subscribe HERE 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - inpiring an alcohol-free life! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years it's time for a change - we are rebranding and launching a whole new membership programe. We are rebranding to Tribe Sober! This is a solo episode before we get back to our usual interview format for our newly branded Tribe Sober Podcast. In this Episode I explain the rationale behind the name change I talk existing members and would-be members through our "6 steps to Sobriety" membership Model Step 1 is about connection - joining our Chat Forum, Zoom Cafe and checking our our Member Bios Step 2 is about Preparation - get in those AF drinks, read some QuitLit and do a Workshop Step 3 is about Doing the Work - take a Challenge, download a Tracker and grab your Milestone Award Step 4 is about getting more support - do you need a Sober Buddy or some Coaching or some help from our Doc Step 5 is about Healing your body and mind - access discounted Yoga, Nutrition advice and Hypnotherapy Then it's time for Step 6 - time to celebrate by joining our exclusive One Year Club and Paying it Forward. Please make sure you are Subscribed so that our rebranded podcast arrives on your phone next week! More info 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 [email protected] 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. Read more about our 6-step program and subscribe HERE 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. This week I look back on our last 30 podcast episodes and pick up the ten most popular ones. In this Episode All will be revealed on the next podcast episode so watch this space! This episode highlights out top ten episodes - we've had 18,000+ downloads so which ones got the most listens? Coming in at number 10 (332 downloads) was episode 29 "14 tips to get through an alcohol free month" Number 9 was episode 9 with Marietjie (479 downloads) "How I stopped drinking and changed my life" Number 8 was episode 17 with Lucy (480 downloads) "How I stopped drinking and changed my life" Number 7 was episode 20 with Janis (489 downloads) "5 years of sobriety" Number 6 was episode 7 with Vuyo (510 downloads) "How alcohol took my parents" Number 5 was episode 30 with Mary Ann Shearer (537 downloads) "Coping with cravings" Number 4 was episode 6 with Jen (551 downloads) "The normalisation of alcohol" Number 3 was episode 5 with Jane (746 downloads) "How I stopped drinking and changed my life" Number 2 was episode 1 with Janet (1320 downloads) "How I stopped drinking and started a tribe" Number 1 was episode 28 with Eusebius (1365 downloads) "My relationship with alcohol" More info Subscription membership you can 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 [email protected] 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. Read more about our 7-step program and subscribe HERE. 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 10 years and helping thousands of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. This week I'm chatting to an inspirational woman Mary Ann Shearer who is a best selling author and a motivational speaker. In this Episode Mary Ann is a woman before her time and was advocating veganism thirty years ago! Her first book "The Natural Way" was written more than 20 years ago She explained that if you give your children lots of sweet things it sets them up for alcohol dependency later in life Mary Ann had alcoholic parents and as a result she craves order and control and has never drunk alcohol We agreed that children of alcoholic parents tend to be like her - or they tend to follow the pattern of their parents She advised people who have stopped drinking to satisfy their cravings by eating fresh fruit not chocolates or sweets Our bodies need glucose and eating fresh fruit satisfies the craving for alcohol Mary Ann feels that alcoholics are clever people who need a creative outlet - sobriety will give them the time and space to find one She explained the damage that alcohol does to our endocrine system - and how it makes menopause much worse To find out more about Mary Ann go to her website www.mary-anns.net - her book is called "The Natural Way" More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE To access our website click HERE To join our January Challenge click HERE - a small donation to a good cause will provide you with community and online support during January If you want to go it alone and would still like one of our trackers then email us at [email protected] 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. This week I'm doing a solo episode - 10 reasons to do an alcohol free January - and 14 tips to get you through. In This Episode REASONS TO DO AN ALCOHOL FREE JANUARY Here in South Africa alcohol has been banned for a few weeks - so we can't buy any! A dry month is a great way to test your dependency - if you can't get through a month without booze then you need to make some changes Alcohol is so toxic that just taking a month off will have significant health benefits Alcohol is linked to liver disease and 7 different types of cancer - 1 glass of wine will raise your risk of breast cancer by 15% Alcohol will weaken our immune systems - and put us more at risk of becoming infected with Covid 20% of regular drinkers will become dependent over the years - drinking more than a bottle and a half of wine a week may damage your health A month off alcohol will reduce your anxiety, freshen up your looks, help you lose weight and enable you to get some good quality sleep Making a donation to our January fundraiser will give you a dopamine hit (giving makes you feel good) and enable you to receive online and community support for 31 days - you can sign up here SOME TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH Shake up your daily routine and exercise every day Be ready to cope with your emotions - if you've been numbing your feelings with alcohol they will come to the surface Use a journal to track your progress, note your triggers and process your emotions Listen to music, make a soundtrack for your January Challenge - a real mood changer Have your go-to drinks -drinknil.co.za are offering 10% discount on all their alcohol free drinks for people doing our Challenge Find your tribe - its hard to do this alone - check out our membership program here Please donate to our Earthchild Fundraiser - and get 30 days of community and online support - sign up link is here MORE INFO To access our website click HERE 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. Read more about our 8 step program and subscribe HERE. Please subscribe and share this podcast so we can reach more people who need our help. Thank you

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. This week I'm chatting to broadcaster, political analyst and author Eusebius McKaiser. Eusebius hosted a daily radio show in South Africa and often invited me as his guest to discuss all things alcohol related. Many of our community found their way to Tribe Sober via his show so I am truly grateful for his ongoing support and friendship. In this Episode For those of us missing his radio show Eusebius reminded us of all the other ways he engages.. He writes regularly for the Mail & Guardian - read one of his thought provoking articles here Eusebius is of course the author of three books - Run Racist Run, A Bantu in My Bathroom and Could I Vote DA - link to all 3 books is HERE His latest project is a book show called Cover to Cover - three episodes already in the can - here is Episode 1 We talked about his relationship with alcohol - he began drinking at college and then binge drank during his 20's and 30's Always competitive academically he still passed all his degrees and build a successful career Eusebius signed up for Dry January a couple of years ago and to his surprise maintained his alcohol free period for six months He then signed up for the next Dry January and apart from one glass of wine has not had a drink for a year He thinks his alcohol free lifestyle may be permanent this time and we discuss the benefits that he is experiencing He explained how he has substituted different kinds of music for alcohol - to stimulate the right mood when he is writing We agreed that as we get older we tend to start "self medicating" with alcohol - convincing ourselves that it's "fun" Eusebius wrote a blog for our website called "Sober Diary Reflections" - you can read it here He mentioned my Goodbye to Alcohol letter which you can hear me reading out on his show here Eusebius feels strongly that it's not our job to justify the fact that we are not drinking and that the onus should be on those challenging us We talked about Earthchild and how the children on the Cape Flats rarely get to experience quiet and a feeling of peace The yoga classes provided by Earthchild can bring those children some relief from their difficult environment So please donate to our Earthchild Fundraiser - and get 30 days of community and online support - the link is HERE More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE To access our website click HERE To join our Dry January Annual Fundraiser click HERE - a small donation will provide you with community and online support during January 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. This week I'm chatting to a truly inspirational woman - Janna Kretzmar - Founder of the Earthchild Project In this Episode 2020 will be the sixth year that Tribe Sober has collaborated with the Earthchild Project for the Dry January Challenge Over the years we have raised more than R220,000 so in this episode we discover how that money has helped 880 children Janna tells us how she came up with the idea to start the project in 2007 - and why she thinks it's been such a successful project She worked on an eco project in Brazil and read a book by a yogi about a project in schools in India - these were her influences She realised that it was important to partner with the schools/teachers for the long term - not just come in for short term projects Earthchild Clothing paid the salary of their first facilitator so that's how they got their name We talked about the power of positive role models in communities and how she is developing young leaders Earthchild provides yoga classes, gardening lessons, eco clubs, hiking clubs - connecting the children with their bodies and the environment The children come from communities with high levels of gang violence and unemployment - yoga provides a tool to help them cope with stress Some of the children who started yoga classes when they were 6 years old are now young leaders working in the Earthchild Project More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE To access our website click HERE To join our Dry January Annual Fundraiser click HERE - a small donation will provide you with community and online support during January 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. This week I'm chatting to Michael Gallagher - an author, a speaker and a coach. In this Episode Michael talks about his hectic childhood - with a mother who was a Jehovah's Witness and a father who was a career criminal Looking back on his years as an addict Michael realises he "mistook pleasure for happiness" He built a successful career in sales but was still drinking heavily - mostly vodka During his last stay in rehab he attempted suicide and cried out for help - and something shifted for him We talked about the importance of living in line with your values - creativity and loyalty are important values for Michael We need to know what's driving us so that we can stop drinking and change our lives We talked about how corporates promote the "work hard, play hard" culture - and that the "play hard" always involves alcohol Michael is trying to change this by promoting mindfulness and meditation programs within companies Michael has written a book called "Waking Up - A Guide for Transformation - available on Kindle and at Amazon For more information on Michael and his work check out his website:- https://michaelgallagherspeaks.com/ More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE To access our website click HERE To join our Dry January Annual Fundraiser click HERE - a small donation will provide you with community and online support during January 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. This week I'm chatting to Carlen - who works in the wine industry! In this Episode Carlen had been a bit worried about her drinking for a long time and knew she needed to make a change She did a private workshop more than 6 months ago and found it quite easy to stop drinking She was really clear about WHY she wanted to make a change - no more fights with husband, no more health worries She requested a Sober Buddy who helped her enormously - a bit of extra support and accountability We both agreed that it's so important to know WHY a change is needed - reasons which will keep you on track over the months Four years ago Carlen had a hypertension episode - in ICU - has regular check ups - since she gave up drinking it has improved dramatically She is finding her running is so much better now that she's stopped drinking - it's on a different level The cognitive dissonance has gone - no more voices in her head saying how, why, what did I say etc No more waking up at 2am feeling full of regrets and shame - sleep has improved - plenty of energy Carlen is in the wine industry and is still enchanted by the process - but she can taste - but doesn't see herself as a drinker any more She keeps a tracker and ticks off her alcohol free day in the morning - she doesn't want to have to correct it later! Carlen has been in advertising and is in the wine industry so the marketing doesn't get to her.. The fact that there are so many AF products on the market has made it SO much easier to give up drinking She loves seeing new people joining - and how the others in the community help them get through Carlen has started a blog about her journey which is called wynvlieg.com More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE To access our website click HERE 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 6 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. This week we're chatting to Fiona and Caroline - who have just launched South Africa's first online store for Alcohol Free drinks - Drink Nil In this Episode I have witnessed a revolution in the AF drinks market since I stopped drinking 6 years ago The choices available have gone from zero to more than one hundred! Duchess was the first, then AF beers and now AF wines plus many more Caroline, who comes from the wine industry, was planning to create an AF drink of her own but cashflow was an issue So she decided to create an online platform specialising in AF drinks - and drinknil.co.za was born - in October 2020 We discuss how the demand for AF drinks is coming from different groups - moms, millennials, the health conscious - and people who just need to drink less - or not at all! We talked about the irony of eating healthy, exercising daily, doing yoga - and then drinking a bottle of wine a day! We discussed the fact that our community often bemoans the fact that alcohol free wines just "don't taste the same" Caroline made the excellent point that perhaps the manufacturers shouldn't be raising our expectations by packaging the AF wines exactly like alcoholic wine - we agreed the AF choices should be seen in a category all of their own Fiona took us through the difference between alcohol free, non alcoholic and de-alcoholised categories More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE To access our website click HERE 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. This week we're chatting to Jo who achieved 2 years of sobriety but then relapsed. Have a listen and find out how she bravely got back on track and tried again.. In this Episode Jo started blogging the day she gave up drinking - her blog was called "Coins in a Jar" She put a coin in a glass jar to represent each alcohol free day - see them pile up kept her motivated She did well and achieved almost 2 years of sobriety - however when she moved to a new city things started to change Jo had become a bit complacent and started to take a few sips of her husbands beers from time to time Before she knew what had happened she was buying wine and back into the old routines After a few months she knew she had to get back on track but this time round she tried a different approach She decided to tackle her underlying issues - she's always suffered from depression to went to see a psychiatrist Jo took some meds, got some therapy - and stopped drinking - and began to feel much much better She is now a few months in and feels stronger this time around We agreed that the danger of relapse can higher for people who don't take the time to deal with their underlying issues You can catch up with Jo's new blog on Facebook - this time she's called it "Coins in a Cracked Jar" More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE To access our website click HERE 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. 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 catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. However in this brand new series we are also interviewing some experts - we've got a doctor, a psychiatrist, a professor, a journalist - and this week we get to meet author and sobriety advocate Ken Middleton In this Episode Ken explains that when he became an entrepreneur he decided to "give it his all" by ditching the drink and putting in 100% effort His thinking behind this decision was that alcohol wasn't ruining his life, but it WAS preventing him from developing his potential He was planning to take a break from alcohol but once he started experiencing the benefits he decided to continue We talked about the "work hard, play hard culture" that prevails in many corporates - and how will catch up with you eventually The science tells us that after a couple of decades of heavy drinking many of us will become dependent We agreed we should never wait until he hit "rock bottom" - it makes far more sense to step off the slippery slope while you can Ken explained how his travel routine changed when he stopped drinking - rather than staying in a bar he actually explored the city! He wants others to discover how to thrive in alcohol free life and writes regularly for Medium He has his own newsletter and is writing a book You can read his article about the science of why you should quit drinking HERE You can subscribe to his newsletter - Alcohol is Not Your Friend HERE More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober you can join up HERE To access our website click HERE 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. However in this brand new series we are also interviewing some experts - we've got a doctor, a psychiatrist, a professor, a journalist - and this week we kick off the series by interviewing Mauritian scientist Jean Deenmamode about the CDT test. In this Episode Jean takes us through his career development and explains how he first came across CDT testing back in 2008. He explained how the traditional "liver function" that many of us rely on is just not a reliable indicator of whether or not alcohol is harming our health. Alcohol harms many other parts of our bodies so there is no reason to focus only on the liver - for example it is linked to 7 different types of cancer The CDT test is a simple blood test that will show elevated markers if a person has been regularly drinking half a bottle of wine or more These elevated markers are a clear indication that alcohol is taking its toll on the body and that a change needs to be made It's not a test that puts people in a box and calls them an "alcoholic - it's a lifestyle assessment that can prompt them to change their drinking habits Seeing the results in black and white (as a number) can make all the difference - and often shocks people into taking action If people do a CDT test they get an early warning and may be able to adjust their consumption, rather than having to stop drinking completely. If you drink within the low risk limits of one and a half of bottles a week you are unlikely to be harming your health. When a patient presents with anxiety/depression a doctor can do a CDT test to open the conversation about the patients drinking habits Alcohol increases anxiety and when people give up drinking their anxiety will often lift The test is inexpensive (30 Euros, R600) and can be arranged by your Doctor Tribe Sober members can contact Dr Judy who will arrange for the test If you are unable to source the test then you can contact Jean Deenmamode directly on +44(0)7917026152 or [email protected] More info Subscription membership a month - you can join up HERE To access our website click HERE 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. Janis came to a workshop back in 2016 and has recently celebrated her fifth Soberversary In this Episode Janis had tried taken regular breaks from alcohol but it never quite stuck She even managed 8 months of sobriety once - then tried to moderate but found herself back drinking heavily within weeks It was a blackout one Christmas that made her decide to make a change We both agreed that when we drink heavily our world "shrinks" - all we care about is alcohol related activities She saw an article in the Sunday Times about Tribe Sober - and booked on the next workshop Janis loved connecting with other people who were struggling with alcohol and after the workshop she stayed in touch - the connection helped her to make a permanent change She is now 5 years sober and feels "renewed" - so much energy - she knows that sobriety has helped her get through the menopause She made and drank a lot of kombucha when she first stopped drinking - also drank AF beers Janis connects much better to her children and has a group of Sober Buddies that she hangs out with We both agreed that we get a lot of pleasure from everyday activities these days - now that we no longer rely on the chemical high from alcohol The alcohol free drinks industry is exploding which is a positive sign and many young people are drinking less We talked about how many people know that they must drink less but have no idea HOW to cut down and how Tribe Sober can help Tribe Sober provides tools and community support to enable people to change their relationship with alcohol More info To access our website click HERE - subscription membership is only R75 (£5/$6) a month - you can join up HERE 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. Ashleigh came to a workshop back in August 2018 and has recently celebrated her second Soberversary In this Episode Ashleigh's first scrape with alcohol came when she was expelled from school at the age of 15! In her 30's she recognized that there could be a problem when she found herself making lots of rules around her drinking - rules that she promptly broke! At the end of the workshop she knew it would be pointless committing to "moderation" - she had to go "all in" - she knew she had crossed the line with her drinking and there was no looking back She felt confident leaving the workshop - she had her toolkit, some new information and people to connect with - she felt she could do this At the beginning she treated herself to hot chocolate, coffee and cake etc. - but as time went on she weaned herself off the sweet things - and has now lost 10kgs! Ashleigh has experienced so many benefits of sobriety - she is certainly less anxious and more confident these days So the workshop was a real turning point in Ashley's - at the age of 40 she has celebrated two years of sobriety and has a different future ahead She fully recognized that if she hadn't taken this step she could have been in a very different place in 5 years time - alcohol is a very "slippery fish" as she said! More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. If you missed the Sober Spring start date then just email us for info on the next Challenge 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. Read more about our 7-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic 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! Till Next Week Janet x

September 12, 2020 Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. We've heard some heartwarming stories so far - stories about people becoming dependent on alcohol and then finding their way out of it again. This week I'm doing a solo episode on the science behind alcohol dependency which underlines the importance of taking a break. If you've missed Sober Spring then drop us a line at [email protected] We'll let you know when the next challenge will take place. In this Episode In our 20's and 30's we tend to be social drinkers - then some of us start using alcohol to cope with stress or loneliness As we get into our 40's or 50's we discover that just how bad alcohol is for us - so we try to cut down or stop We discover that this is not so easy to do The harsh truth is that after 20 years of drinking we are almost certain to develop a dependency on alcohol When we drink we create an endorphin spike (the buzz) but our brain produces dynorphin to calm it down So we drink more to prolong the buzz but over time this means that we have to drink more and more to get the same result Three things are happening when we drink - we get an endorphin spike and a dopamine hit Apart from making you feel good dopamine is the "learning" molecule and will create triggers Eventually your brain will "pre-empt" the trigger and produce dynorphin This will make you feel low and you will need the drink, just to feel normal Eventually our bodies get so reliant on alcohol so alcohol that we don't produce dopamine naturally any more The result is that we will lose interest in everyday pleasures - the only thing we enjoy is the artificial boost we get from alcohol That's the definition of an alcoholic - let us help you get off the slippery slope More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. If you missed the Sober Spring start date then just email us for info on the next Challenge 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. Read more about our 7-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Lucy who I met at our first London workshop back in 2018. Since then not only has she ditched the drink and transformed her own health but she has helped many other people in our community. Lucy just hit her second Soberversary and is loving her alcohol free life! In this Episode Lucy was a social drinker until her 40's but then started using it to self medicate her work related stress She tried to moderate as she was determined to be "normal" but it never really stuck - in spite of her many "rules" She had managed to give up for short periods - Dry January etc Lucy came to the workshop with 1 month of sobriety - she wanted a boost to make sure she stayed on track She had also read Clare Pooley's book (The Sober Diaries) which inspired her She loved the workshop because she got a lot of info and connected with others on the same path Lucy stayed connected with these people via the WhatsApp group She also became a member and got her subscription fee back in one week of not drinking! One of the things she loves about the Members' WhatsApp group is all the information that is circulated She loves the support and friendship in the Membership - we all understand each other The weekly Zoom cafe has added another layer of connection for the community We talked about the value of the annual and 66-day trackers which Lucy designed Lucy listed the many benefits of sobriety - she particularly loves not having her life revolve around alcohol! She is a cheerleader for the Sober Springers and finds the mutual support heartwarming She urges people to sign up for the Sober Spring starting on 21st September - there is nothing to lose! To Sign Up for Sober Spring 2020 click HERE More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. If you would like a copy of Lucy's tracker just email us at [email protected] If you missed the Sober Spring start date then just email us for info on the next Challenge 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Sheila who signed up for Sober Spring last year - it proved to be a springboard for dramatically improving her relationship with alcohol. In this Episode Sheila signed up for Sober Spring with the firm intention of only completing 30 out of the 66 days. She did her 30 days by using willpower - and hated every minute! However it did get her thinking about her relationship with alcohol and she decided to come along to a workshop. The workshop was a turning point for her - it created a mindshift and connected her with others on the same path She was shocked to learn that the "safe" limit was only one and a half bottles of wine a week Sheila realised that her daily drinking habit was putting her on a "slippery slope" to dependence The workshop was late November and she got through the festive season alcohol free She started 2020 with a firm plan to moderate - to be alcohol free Monday to Thursday and then 1 or 2 glasses at the weekend. That was 8 months ago and she is still firmly on track! Sheila is one of those rare people who has managed to go from a daily drinking habit to drinking within the safe limits. To summarise - she used Sober Spring to raise awareness and the workshop to get the tools and connect with others She took a significant alcohol free break to reset her habits and then started the year with her tracker and a firm plan Her anxiety has reduced dramatically and she is experiencing a real sense of joy in her life. Sheila urges people to try Sober Spring to increase their awareness around their relationship with alcohol To Sign Up for Sober Spring 2020 click HERE More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Christelle. Christelle heard about Tribe Sober on the radio when she heard me tasting some alcohol free wines. It was a bit of a light bulb moment for her when she realised that there were AF wines on the market and she began to wonder if she could stop drinking. In this Episode For Christelle the drinking was more about the ritual than anything else - she could never limit herself to one glass That first glass is the problem - as it triggers you to have another - and another - alcohol is an addictive drug after all With alcohol free wine Christelle never really wanted more than one or two glasses She had tried one of our 30 day challenges and lasted about 30 minutes! She used to wake up at 3am with her heart jumping, wondering if she had remembered to feed her family the previous evening Every morning Christelle would berate herself and resolve that she would give up - but at 6pm she opened another bottle However once she started to discover AF wines she began to wonder if she could do the 66 day challenge She stocked up for the Challenge - red, white and bubbly AF wines Christelle sailed through the Challenge without difficulty and finished on November 5th She adored the cameraderie and support on the Sober Spring WhatsApp group - when the challenge ended she missed it So on November 8th she signed up as a Tribe Sober member and has never looked back! She says people thinking about signing up for Sober Spring must just "do it" - it's the best gift they could give themselves To Sign Up for Sober Spring 2020 click HERE More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Kai. Kai read about Tribe Sober in an in-flight magazine when on a plane. He took a photo of the article on his phone but didn't do anything for about 3 years - but the seed had been planted - and in 2018 he signed up for our Sober Spring Challenge. In this Episode The interesting thing about Kai's story is that he had no intention whatsoever to give up drinking entirely He went into the Challenge with an open mind and mainly saw it as a way to take a break from booze and improve his health As he progressed through the 66 days he noticed a few significant "shifts" He loved the cameraderie of the WhatsApp group but noticed that a few people were really struggling The "strugglers" made him realise what a hold alcohol could have on some people and he never wanted to be in that position Then Kai heard other people on the group saying how great they felt - and that they would never drink again! He was both shocked - and impressed - by these people - and the thought crossed him mind that he could stop for ever His children played a big role in his journey - they told him some home truths about his behaviour when he was drinking! When Kai successfully clocked up 66 sober days he felt great - and didn't want to start drinking again Rather than commit to permanent sobriety he decided to set another milestone - 100 days Once he reached 100 days his daughter challenged him to a year - which he completed easily - and then carried on! Kai had experienced so many benefits and is thriving in his alcohol free life He remains a loyal and valuable member of our tribe - now helping others on their journey as a "Sober Buddy" More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Johannes Le Roux. I first met Johannes 5 years ago when Tribe Sober was very new and he had just developed The Duchess. He kindly sent me samples whenever we had a workshop tasting and it was usually the hot favourite amongst our participants! There is an obvious synergy between our two companies so it was good to catch up and shoot the breeze. We both firmly believe that there is great value to be had in taking a break from alcohol - even if you don't want to give up completely. Johannes loves our Sober Spring Challenge initiative so this year it will be sponsored by The Duchess Alcohol-Free Drinks Studio! In this Episode Johannes studied property development but graduating in 2008 meant he needed to consider other careers He decided to go join an advertising agency as he had always been fascinated by brands (and the Mad Men series ;-) His first brand was an alcoholic drink but when he noticed the gap in the market for AF drinks he did a pivot Johannes feels branding design is vital and was determined that Duchess would be perceived as an adult drink We chatted about the the conception of the Duchess, the "recipe" and how his Aunt Phoebe played a vital role! We agreed that AF drinks should be seen as a "third category" rather than fake alcohol. Johannes explained the concept of "Born Free" drinks - quite different to "de-alcoholised" drinks He talked about "Dope Drinks" CBD infused drinks - that give you a buzz from other active ingredients He is excited to launch the Duchess AF Spritzer in two flavours - Elderberry and Acai Berry We talked about how much fun we can have at social events without alcohol - once we get through those first fifteen minutes! He agreed with me that we give alcohol far too much credit for fun Johannes knows that many many people want to cut down or quit but have no idea where to start That's why he loves the work that we do - just giving people a helping hand through our challenges and workshops AB InBev have bought a stake in the Duchess as they believe that 20% of their turnover will soon be AF AB InBev now has a Director of AF Drinks and Johannes left me with this startling statistic 53% of Americans want to drink less but AF drinks represent only 0.5% of the market! To Sign Up for Sober Spring 2020 click HEREMore info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. To join our private Facebook Group click HERE 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic

Tribe Sober- Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Lebo. I first met Lebo when she signed up for the Sober Spring Challenge - Lebo is an entrepreneur, a teacher at Stretch with Pule and a sought after speaker on leadership and gender issues. She is the author of 2 books and a podcaster herself. We got to know each other better when she interviewed me for her podcast - which you can listen to here. In this Episode Like many of us Lebo's relationship with alcohol could be described as "complicated" Her father used to drink a lot at the weekend but her mother didn't drink at all Lebo didn't drink much until her late twenties She was introduced to alcohol by an expert and it all felt very sophisticated Her consumption gradually crept up over the years until she found herself using it to cope with stress As she approached 40 she noticed that she was developing a "wine belly" She started to worry about her wine habit and asked some of her friends for advice Lebo's friends assured her that she was absolutely fine and didn't drink too much at all We discussed how friends will often do this as they are afraid to highlight their own drinking habits! In spite of her friends' reassurances Lebo recognized she could be on a slippery slope and signed up for Sober Spring During the challenge she completed several alcohol free stretches and interacted a lot with the other challengers She appreciated the information she received during Sober Spring and now feels much more aware of the dangers of alcohol Lebo still drinks sometimes but she knows that her life is so much better when she is alcohol free - so that is her aim She urges people to give Sober Spring Challenge a try to reset their habits - there is nothing to lose and so much to gain More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. 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. Read more about our 7-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Chez. Chez heard about Tribe Sober on the radio and although she didn't actually do anything for a while the seed had been planted - and in 2018 she signed up for our Sober Spring Challenge. In this Episode Chez thought that the only two options to help her stop drinking were AA and rehab - she had tried rehab and didn't want to go to AA Then she heard about Tribe Sober and the 66 day Sober Spring Challenge which appealed to her The 66 day period intrigued her so she did some research and discovered that one can change a habit during this period Chez signed up and completed 66 alcohol free days - it was really hard to start with but she kept going and towards the end of the challenge she felt a "shift" She then began to feel amazing - reduced anxiety, better sleep - so many benefits - including feeling much closer to her teenage son She loved the Sober Spring WhatsApp group and the connection on there - she still has some friends made through doing the challenge After the 66 days she felt great - really motivated - and was convinced she could continue with her alcohol free life on her own But she couldn't - started having the odd glass of wine and it crept up again So she became a Tribe Sober member and has never looked back - for Chez it's all about being in a community of like minded people - that's what keeps her on track Chez was diagnosed as bi-polar some years ago - but her medication never seemed to work - she now realises that the alcohol was preventing it from working She urges people to give Sober Spring Challenge a try - there is nothing to lose and so much to gain To Sign Up for Sober Spring 2020 click HERE More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Music by CadacusMusic 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Sue McLeod. A couple of years ago she contacted me offering her help. She had got sober with AA and liked the look of our approach. Sue helped me set up our Membership Program and has been invaluable helping me to develop it further. In this Episode Sue didn't really feel she had a problem with alcohol until March 2014 - when she started drinking every day She could feel it getting worse so started putting "rules" in place - and then promptly broke them all! Sue went to AA in 2016 because she didn't know where else to go - it worked for her We agreed that "finding your tribe" is essential - we understand each other - almost impossible to do this alone She never had a "rock bottom" but had a walking, talking blackout and an argument she couldn't even remember Sue never went back to Day 1 - she felt that she had reached the point where she was "done" with alcohol She prefers Tribe Sober's approach to AA as she doesn't agree with labelling herself as an "alcoholic" She loves our tribe - and has discovered that ex-drinkers are really interesting people! When she was younger Sue always felt she had to be "perfect" - now she is happy to be "good enough" She agrees with our approach that we need to ditch the drink - and then create an alcohol free life that we love Her main benefit of alcohol free life is that she feels "at peace" with life - she's not looking for anything anymore We are both thrilled that people who have got sober with Tribe Sober are now helping the newbies via our Sober Buddy program With annual subs at £30 for a Brit and $38 for US we are getting a lot of international members and connecting via Zoom More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts which will result in more people hearing the podcast. We will 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Marietjie Tame. She came along to a workshop with a few months sobriety under her belt. She was feeling a bit low and wanted to meet other people on the journey and get inspired about alcohol free living. It worked and she is now 2+ years sober. In this Episode Like many of us alcohol gradually crept up on her over the years and she gradually became dependent Marietjie knew she was in trouble when she felt the need to drink shots after a night of drinking beer - to chase the buzz She once did 14 alcohol free months and then had one shooter on her birthday and decided she could moderate That's how she learned the hard lesson that there was no such thing as moderation for her - only escalation Her wake up call came when she heard that her daughter was in hospital and felt irritated because she had to stop drinking She went through a "low" a few months into sobriety - but realised that this "void" was a golden moment of discovery Alcohol had put a wall between herself - and herself - she was determined to tear that wall down in spite of her pain She used "The Sober Diaries" as a reference book as she progressed towards sobriety Tribe Sober opened a whole new world for her - connecting with the tribe and discovering QuitLit, podcasts and AF drinks. Marietjie's top 3 benefits are a life without regrets, being available to the people to need her - and getting her mind back More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts which will result in more people hearing the podcast. We will 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Kgothatso Meka. He came along to a workshop with a very specific goal in mind - he was ambitious and knew he would be more likely to succeed in his career if he avoided the heavy drinking culture in his workplace. In this Episode Kgothatso came along to a workshop at the tender age of 32 His colleagues in banking were binge drinking at the week-ends and although he joined in at first he could see the dangers He wanted to learn more about his relationship with alcohol as he wanted to avoid the pitfalls AA definitely didn't appeal but he felt that Tribe Sober was for "normal" people who wanted to cut down so came to a workshop The workshop was exactly right for him - lots of information and left him feeling motivated to make some changes After the workshop he committed to 100 sober days - but then decided to carry on and put his health first He felt incredible and didn't want to spoil it so he actually did 6 months alcohol free The break has made him much more aware - and given him confidence to turn down drinks when pressured. More info To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts which will result in more people hearing the podcast. We will 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview Vuyo. She came along to a workshop a few years ago and has been a valuable member of our community ever since. Vuyo has been an inspiration to so many. In this Episode Vuyo explains that she started to worry about her alcohol consumption about 5 years ago She began to have a niggling feeling that all was not well - although she was functioning normally It finally reached a point where there were just too many signals she could no longer ignore Vuyo's health was suffering and her daughter was noticing She tried to stop in 2017 - and failed - that's when she realised there was a problem She came to a workshop with the idea that she could learn to handle her drinking - abstinence was just too frightening After the workshop she committed to 100 sober days - but then decided she could have just one glass That worked for a while but then she reverted to old ways - the decline was swift Vuyo finally reached the point when she accepted that she would have to stop and is now approaching 2 years sober She counted the milestones - the events she attended sober - the "Sober Firsts" - eventually she could enjoy those events! She feels great - she feels like she can do anything she puts her mind to - she can cope with challenges that come her way We agreed that Sobriety is a Superpower! Useful Links To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. You can find Vuyo's inspirational Goodbye to Alcohol letter HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts which will result in more people hearing the podcast. We will 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! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview an important member of our Tribe Sober team - Jen Luiz. She came along to a workshop a few years ago, ditched the drink and then became our resident "Activist". Jen is very vocal on Twitter (@JenLuiz) which she uses to call out people who are misrepresenting alcohol in the media. In this Episode Jen talks about her personal struggles with alcohol She describes how her world had shrunk until her wine was the only thing that interested her She explains how she felt like an utter failure - as a wife and as a mum Jen heard Janet on the radio, booked a workshop and recently celebrated 3 years sober! She explains how important journalling has been (and still is) to get (and stay) on track As someone who went back to "Day 1" many times she urges people to be tough on themselves and power through Once Jen got to 100 alcohol free days and started experiencing the benefits of sobriety she found it easier She is experiencing so many benefits - clarity of thought particularly - she feels she is living her best life Jen still misses wine occasionally but is go grateful for the benefits of sobriety she will never drink again We discussed the "normalisation" of alcohol and how apparent this becomes when you stop drinking Alcohol has become the "only drug you have to justify not taking" due to constant glamorisation by the media She hates the "mommy juice" culture and the fact that the wine industry targets women Ironically "Women's Health" magazine are always pushing alcohol and Jen has written to them several times Useful Links To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. To read some of Jen's awesome letters check out our Activists Corner HERE 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts which will result in more people hearing the podcast. We will release a podcast episode every Saturday morning. You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview an important member of our Tribe Sober team - Jane Rivera. She came along to a workshop a few years ago, ditched the drink and then became a workshop facilitator so she could help others change their relationship with alcohol. In this Episode Jane tells her how her mindset has gone from "wanting to die" to "can't get enough of life" She was introduced to alcohol at an early age as her parents bought a pub in the UK She moved to Joburg as a teenager but struggled to settle and went off the rails A happy marriage and two beautiful children still didn't stop her from hitting the wine Jane finally realised that she would have to make a change when she felt her husband and kids pulling away from her She heard Janet on the radio and booked a workshop She left the workshop thinking she would stay alcohol free for a while and then start drinking moderately After a few months of AF living Jane was feeling great and accepted that she would never be able to have "just one glass" She now loves her AF life, is close to her family again - and loves helping people in our community She has recently relocated to Norway - an adventure she could never have coped with back in her drinking days! Useful Links To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. To read more about Jane check out her guest blog HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts which will result in more people hearing the podcast. We will release a podcast episode every Saturday morning. You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview an important member of our Tribe Sober team - Lynette Le Roux. She came along to a workshop a few years ago, ditched the drink and then qualified as a coach so she could help others change their relationship with alcohol. In this Episode Lynette explains how her drinking gradually became problematic for her due to stress at work The workshop enabled her to stop drinking for 3 months but then she decided she could have "a glass of wine" She talks to us about how that "glass of wine" escalated to vodka drinking In spite of returning to drinking she kept connected to Tribe Sober and eventually got back on track and stayed alcohol free. Benefits of sobriety for Lynette included getting her energy back, feeling alive again - and full of joy. We then talked about coaching - a thinking space to clarify our needs and purpose - your coach is your thinking partner She believes that everything we do in life (or don't do) is because of how we feel She recommends journalling as well as coaching to get in touch with how we are really feeling Lynette asks us to get curious about our cravings - what do we really want? what else would make us feel better? "Don't lose yourself looking for that buzz" - she says "what you are really looking for is connection" She recommends that people use journalling and coaching to help them apply the techniques they learnt on the workshop Useful Links To access our website click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. To read Lynette's views on relapsing click HERE. Read more about Coaching HERE - Lynette is offering a complimentary coaching session to podcast listeners so please write to [email protected] to connect with her. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts which will result in more people hearing the podcast. We will release a podcast episode every Saturday morning. You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a thing or two. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview an important member of our Tribe Sober team - Dr Judy. She did our Sober Spring Challenge and then came along to a workshop. She now advises our Subscription Members on all matters relating to alcohol and health. In this Episode Judy shares her personal relationship with alcohol and explains how she would never be able to "moderate" She explains how the group support of our tribe was so important to her We all know that alcohol is a drug - but do you why it's a drug? I ask Dr Judy if SA has any chance of "flattening the curve" of Covid 19 She explains how our bodies treat alcohol as if it was an "infection" - firing up our immune system If we do contract the virus then we have a better chance of survival if we are not drinking - Judy explains why We explore the fascinating (if scary) phenomena of the Cytokine Storm Both Judy and I have had breast cancer - as have many of our community - is that because we were heavy drinkers? Early sobriety is tough and we chat about the depression that we both felt in those early months Useful Links To access our website click HERE, to access the Goodbye to Alcohol letters click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. To read Judy's guest blog click HERE. If you need a bit of support to get you through an alcohol free lockdown then you can access our free Lockdown Challenge HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts which will result in more people hearing the podcast. We will release a podcast episode every Saturday morning. You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Thank you for listening! Till Next Week Janet x

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a lot. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this podcast is recovery stories. In this episode I interview an important member of our Tribe Sober team - my workshop co-facilitator Nick Stevenson. He came along to an early workshop, got sober and now helps other people to do the same. In this Episode Nick knew he was drinking too much - but had no idea HOW to make the change. Although Nick was hoping to be able to "cut down" rather than stop drinking completely - he finally accepted that it was much harder to moderate than to stop - that realisation was a game changer for him Nick takes us through the fabulous benefits he has experienced since he ditched the drink He explains the satisfaction he gains from "giving back" as he helps others in our Tribe Sober community Nick tells us why he thinks our workshop survey got such great results! His only regret is that he didn't give up drinking sooner Nick ends our conversation by sharing his Goodbye to Alcohol letter Useful Links To access our website click HERE, to access the Goodbye to Alcohol letters click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. To read Nick's Story click HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts which will result in more people hearing the podcast. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Thank you for listening!

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living! After running Tribe Sober for 5 years and helping hundreds of people to ditch the drink and embrace alcohol-free living I've learned a lot. My biggest insight has been that sharing our stories around our problems with alcohol is the most powerful way we can help others - that's why the heart of this new podcast will be recovery stories. That's why I'm starting this podcast by sharing my story. In this Episode How I got hooked on the booze - and nearly drowned How I got breast cancer - and carried on drinking How a "walking, talking blackout" made me (finally) ditch the drink How Tribe Sober was born My Goodbye to Alcohol Letter The biggest secret you should know - if you want to quit Useful Links To access our website click HERE, to access the Goodbye to Alcohol letters click HERE and to read about subscription membership click HERE. 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. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE. Help us to spread the word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need help. Please subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.