The Big Drink Rethink

We’ve taught young people how to achieve but have we taught them how to feel, struggle, and grow? Host Anna Donaghey is joined by consultant Joanna Lilley, who works with young adults at the crossroads of high school, university, and early adulthood, to explore why so many high-achieving students feel anxious, overwhelmed, and unprepared for life.Together, they discuss the emotional blind spots shaping a generation, from overprotection and crisis-driven support, to the relentless pursuit of perfection and the lure of numbing out through tech, alcohol, and quick fixes. You’ll also hear practical ideas for building genuine resilience, supporting emotional growth, and redefining success for both parents and teens.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Welcome back & why helping kids handle stress matters02:08 Why record numbers of students are struggling04:09 Tech, overstimulation & the accountability gap after leaving home05:27 Why current university support often misses the mark10:22 Are parents unintentionally “fixing” too much?11:29 Why adversity and struggle are key to building grit and resilience15:22 Coping, numbing, and the pull toward quick-fix behaviors18:10 Alcohol, substances, and the hidden culture of self-medication21:00 The emotional blind spots that make numbing so tempting23:12 How parents and schools can nurture real emotional intelligence and self-awareness29:02 Why Gen Z are the anxious generation33:57 How to support your teen without being a human shield for difficulty35:09 Letting go, empty nests, and finding your own path45:54 Why recovery, reflection, and even a gap year matter more than ever47:43 How intuition, creativity, and downtime build long-term resilience.Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.ukAbout Joanna Lilley:Joanna Lilley runs LilleyConsulting and, since 2016, has been helping young adults (18+) find mental health, substance use, and wellness resources. Joanna dedicates herself to working solely with emerging adults who unravel in college or aren’t thriving in adulthood. She also hosts the "Success is Subjective" podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.Connect with Joanna:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilleyConsultingLLC/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-lilley-ma-ncc-12546566/

What if making one intentional, alcohol-free day didn’t have to feel like a test of willpower or a white-knuckle challenge you had to survive? In this practical solo episode, your host Anna Donaghey shares a clear, step-by-step structure for what a supported, intentional day off drinking can look like in real life.Inspired by a listener who found Dry January a “white-knuckle ride,” Anna explores why sustainable change isn’t about deprivation or strict rules, but about adding support, care, and intention into your day. She’ll walk you through gentle but powerful tools you can use: from a simple morning check-in and choosing your mantra, to micro-habits that help transition from work mode to rest mode without defaulting to a drink.No matter if you’re struggling to string one alcohol-free day together or just want to experiment with drinking less, this toolkit breaks it down into doable, kind steps so you can approach the question of drinking with more choice and less self-judgment.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Welcome back and the listener question behind this episode00:55 Why lasting change is rarely about willpower01:39 “I struggle to put even one alcohol-free day together”03:02 Sustainable change is about adding support, not just removing alcohol04:07 What does one intentional alcohol-free day actually look like?05:26 Starting with a gentle morning check-in (and why it matters)07:27 Have a “coffee with yourself” and checking in on your needs09:25 Choosing a mantra to anchor your day15:29 Micro-rests and working with the day you really have17:36 Hydration as an act of self-care, not just another box to tick20:45 How being well-resourced softens evening cravings21:08 Dealing with the “witching hour”23:33 Finding new rituals to mark the threshold between work and rest26:20 The importance of identity cues, not just discipline27:31 Ending the day with a gentle reflection (not a journaling marathon)30:30 One intentional day is always worth coming back to33:30 How to get more support with the Thirsty For More Mindset Lab.Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

What if the limits we feel around age, change, and possibility aren’t real but simply old, worn-out stories we’ve inherited? In this energising episode, Anna Donaghey is joined by Allison Davis, traditional naturopath and author of ‘Sixty is a Good Start: A Powerful Body, a Purposeful Life, and a Plan to Make it Happen’, to bust wide open the myth that it’s ever “too late” to rethink your life or your drinking.Together, Anna and Allison explore the deep-seated cultural scripts that tell us when we should want less, slow down, or shrink our dreams. Allison shares her own journey: becoming a new mom at fifty, reclaiming her health in her mid-fifties, writing a book at sixty, and refusing to let a single decade define what’s possible. You’ll hear how small, sustainable routines, what Allison calls the “self-perpetuating circle of purpose” can help us create vibrant lives at any age.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Rethinking the script on age and alcohol00:41 The “too late” myth and culturally inherited limitations02:15 Allison’s story: parenting, fitness, writing, and starting new chapters08:30 How the narratives about age take root and how to question them13:02 Introducing the “circle of purpose”15:02 Why real longevity is about energy, not just living longer16:00 Learning to listen to your body (instead of just managing it)19:13 Alcohol, numbing, and re-awakening to what you really need25:00 The role of the inner critic32:40 The power of “threshold moments”34:02 Rethinking “world work”: purpose, connection, and creating a life worth living39:06 Loneliness and the vital importance of connection as we age42:08 Introducing the Sixty-Day Dare: baby steps toward a bigger, richer life43:00 Why sustainable change is always made up of doable, micro-shifts46:46 Simple places to begin: water, movement, and intentional choices48:13 “Is this enough?” The question that can start everything over, at any age.Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.ukAbout Allison Davis:Allison Davis is an author, Traditional Naturopath and mum of five, who has pursued entrepreneurial business in the world of natural health for the last fourteen years while raising her family.With her new book, Sixty Is a Good Start: A Powerful Body, a Purposeful Life, and a Plan to Make it Happen, she advocates for reimagining life after sixty and inspires women to embrace aging as a time of opportunity, vitality, and purpose.Connect with Allison:All of Allison’s links can be found here – including a link to buy her book:https://allisonmccunedavis.com/links

What if change doesn’t start with a dramatic rock bottom or a grand decision, but with the tiniest flickers of awareness? In this reflective episode, Anna Donaghey shines a light on those often-overlooked “tiny clarity moments”, the split seconds when you see your drinking, and your habits, with fresh honesty.Anna shares personal stories and insights from her work as an alcohol mindset coach, exploring how real transformation rarely starts with ultimatums or huge declarations. Instead, it begins with small, honest realisations. Noticing when a drink isn’t actually enjoyable, seeing the mismatch between the promise and reality of alcohol, or catching yourself pouring a glass before you've even decided if you want it.This episode is for anyone who’s wondered even briefly about their drinking. If you’ve been waiting for a dramatic sign or a clear plan, this is your permission to start smaller. Sometimes all it takes is noticing what’s already there.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Welcome back to The Big Drink Rethink00:40 What are “Tiny Clarity Moments”?01:38 Why big changes often start with small, quiet recognitions02:16 How overlooked thoughts are actually the seeds of awareness03:12 Examples from Anna’s own journey04:27 Catching the gap between self-stories and reality05:17 Let moments percolate, don’t force change07:12 Understanding your drinking triggers10:06 Why you don’t need rules, labels, or willpower11:19 The discomfort of awareness12:07 Prompts to gently explore your own tiny clarity moments13:35 Introducing the Thirsty Ffor More Mindset Lab14:32 Let small things be noticed, because that’s where change begins.Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

Is it possible that drinking isn’t really the problem or at least, not the whole story? In this episode, Anna asks you to rethink your relationship with alcohol by shifting the focus away from simply how much or how often you drink, to what deeper needs might be driving the habit in the first place.Anna explores why we treat alcohol as the main issue, and how it’s often just the “smoke, not the fire.” Instead of fixating on willpower or self-control, she dives into the real desires beneath drinking: rest, relief, connection, pleasure, escape.You'll learn how putting alcohol in context, and being gently curious about your own needs rather than harshly judging yourself can open up new possibilities for change.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Welcome to The Big Drink Rethink01:13 What if drinking isn’t actually the issue?01:41 Drinking is often the visible symptom, not the deeper cause02:18 Ask: “What am I actually thirsty for?”02:53 Meeting your real needs weakens drinking’s grip03:39 Alcohol shows up inside busy, pressured, complex lives04:03 What role has alcohol been playing for you?04:15 Reframing drinking as a response, not a moral failing04:46 Calm, informed choices are possible when alcohol is explained05:11 A new question: “What would actually support me here?”06:01 Shifting from control to care, from shame to curiosity06:38 Change happens gradually, not with a dramatic declaration06:57 If something feels off, you don’t need to have a plan yet07:36 Staying curious, not judgmental08:21 Your feedback drives future episodes!Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

Have you ever wondered why even after a few alcohol-free weeks, life can feel flat or why it feels so hard to say “enough” in a world of endless overconsumption? In this transformative episode of The Big Drink Rethink, Anna Donaghey sits down with Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist, author of Dopamine Nation, and Stanford Addiction Medicine Director, to explore how alcohol hijacks our reward system and what it really takes to rediscover joy and meaning, beyond the next drink.Dr. Lembke explains why life can feel “meh” after quitting drinking and how the brain slowly recalibrates, making real satisfaction possible again. This episode is a gentle yet powerful guide for anyone seeking answers about our brain’s quest for ‘more’.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Looking at compulsive over consumption in a dopamine loaded world05:52 ‘The drug of choice’ and dopamine08:34 Modern life pushes a ‘hijacked brain’ to crave intense stimuli10:53 Addiction shifts the brain's balance14:41 After 4 weeks alcohol-free, 80% no longer had major depression.18:28 Micro stressors like cold exposure boost feel-good neurotransmitters21:12 Pleasure-pain balance drives homeostasis25:46 Modern boredom and addiction29:22 The lizard brain and modern pleasure31:59 Many people associate alcohol with relaxation and happiness36:38 Dopamine, exercise and brain ‘tricks’44:03 True joy comes from connection, curiosity, and enoughness.Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.ukAbout Dr. Anna Lembke:Dr. Anna Lembke is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, keeps an active speaking calendar, and maintains a thriving clinical practice.In 2016, she published Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It’s So Hard to Stop (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016), which was highlighted in the New York Times as one of the top five books to read to understand the opioid epidemic (Zuger, 2018). Dr. Lembke has also appeared on the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives.Dopamine Nation: Why our Addiction to Pleasure is Causing us Pain (Dutton/Penguin Random House, 2023), a New York Times Bestseller, explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world.You can purchase Dopamine Nation here: Amazon - Dopamine Nation

Ever caught yourself wondering, “Why is alcohol so hard to control for me?” In this episode Anna Donaghey urges you to challenge the story that the struggle is all your fault. Drawing from her experience as an alcohol mindset coach, author, and strategist, Anna examines why shame and blame are baked into how we talk about drinking and offers a totally different perspective.Instead of focusing on willpower, Anna explores how social expectations, stress, and our culture’s obsession with alcohol shapes your relationship with drinking. She invites you to shift from self-judgement to compassionate curiosity, uncovering what alcohol actually does for you, and how to move forward with genuine agency (not force).Listen now for fresh psychological insight, and actionable tools to gently reframe your habits and open new possibilities about rethinking the way you drink.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Welcome to The Big Drink Rethink Podcast00:53 What if you're not the problem?01:33 Our culture confuses responsibility with blame02:23 The dominant narrative comes from Alcoholics Anonymous05:41 Using alcohol to cope, switching off, easing anxiety, marking the end of the day doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human.06:27 The real question isn’t “what’s wrong with me?” but “why is this the tool I’ve ended up relying on?”07:01 Curiosity about what alcohol is doing for you shifts the conversation07:23 The goal isn’t just to become a non-drinker, but someone who listens to themselves and designs a life they don’t want to escape from08:23 Struggles with drinking aren’t your fault09:50 Change begins with curiosity, and honesty10:09 Rethinking drinking is about being awake in your own life.Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

This week is a big one for The Big Drink Rethink, with host Anna Donaghey, celebrating publication day and introducing her brand new, first book."What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!In this special episode, Anna invites you to continue your reappraisal - not just of alcohol, but what it is you are really craving in life. Rather than pushing rules or labels, she offers practical, compassionate insights drawn from her own journey (and many honest stories from you, the listeners).At its heart, she invites you to ask a pivotal, different question. Not “Is my drinking bad enough?” but “Is my life good enough?” With warmth and zero preaching, Anna Donaghey welcomes anyone curious, cautious, or somewhere in the grey area, to explore what you really want from life, using gentle tools for awareness and self-discovery.Whether you’re seeking new possibilities, or just looking to understand what truly drives your drinking, tune in for an uplifting, honest conversation and don’t forget to grab the book, now available everywhere!Amazon: https://amzn.to/47agUn2Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/what-are-you-thirsty-for/anna-donaghey/9781915780607Here are the highlights:00:00 Intro: Anna’s new book - What Are You Thirsty For? is here!01:07 If you’re in the “grey area” around alcohol, you’re not alone02:14 How cultural stories about alcohol shape our habits03:43 The book is flipping the script from “is my drinking bad enough?” to “is my life good enough?”05:01 The shift from self-judgement to self-inquiry, insights from podcast guests07:01 Awareness, not rules why most people live in the vast in-between08:23 The “jobs” we hand to alcohol (and why it never truly delivers)11:11 What changed for Anna12:05 Who the book is really written for14:22 Designing your life by choice, not out of habit, find a pathway back to yourself15:31 This isn’t just about alcohol; it’s about the life you want.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

Struggling to keep your momentum as the novelty of cutting back on drinking starts to wear off? You’re not alone. In this third mini episode, Anna Donaghey returns with five practical, pressure-free ideas to support you through January, especially when willpower is fading and real-life challenges kick in.Building on previous mindset shifts, Anna sidesteps perfection and “shoulds,” guiding you to focus on what you actually want from life (not just what you’re trying to avoid). She invites listeners to rethink their motivation, reframe inevitable wobbles as valuable learning moments, and gently plan supportive evenings that help you feel safe and soothed and not stressed.You’ll learn the ultimate nervous system hack (intentional breathing), why small rituals matter more than big gestures, and why celebrating tiny gains is the most powerful way to stay on track.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Welcome back to the mini series, for a new year kickstart01:09 The novelty wears off, how to get real momentum in sober curiosity01:31 Five simple, practical ideas, not willpower, but gentle support01:49 Swap “not allowed” thinking for “is my life good enough right now?”02:42 Motivation from desire, not discipline or fear03:18 The pull towards a better life is stronger than willpower04:39 Wobbles are normal, it takes time to learn new habits07:12 Treat setbacks with curiosity, not moral judgment07:34 Plan evenings lightly, enjoy tiny, soothing rituals10:12 The incredible power of intentional breathing (box breathing)13:39 Pay attention to what’s getting better14:32 Pick one idea to shape your evening, even if it’s gentle and small14:54 What if this month was about becoming someone you feel good being?15:04 The journey continues with more episodes and resources.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

If you’re already feeling the challenge of cutting back on drinking this January, you’re not alone and you don’t have to rely on sheer willpower. In this second mini episode, Anna returns to share the essential (and surprisingly gentle) secret to handling cravings and breaking free from autopilot habits.Building on the previous episode’s mindset shifts, Anna introduces the idea of noticing urges without judgment, explains why most cravings are signals about what you truly need, and guides listeners through the powerful practice of “urge surfing.”This is not about perfection or passing a test. It’s about curiosity, self-kindness, and baby steps toward a better relationship with drinking. You’ll walk away with a practical tool you can use tonight, and the knowledge that real change starts with tiny moments of awareness.Here are the Highlights:00:00 January is tough, and feeling mixed emotions is normal01:03 Mindset recap: why big declarations don’t work01:20 Day two focus: Noticing urges, and why old patterns creep in02:20 Why drinking habits are automatic02:45 What’s underneath the craving?03:37 The “magic” of noticing04:26 Tiny moments of awareness versus gritted teeth04:28 Zero-pressure reflection practice05:02 Change begins with curiosity, not control05:31 Your only job tonight: Just notice05:49 What if tonight was just something to observe?07:19 The reality: Most urges peak and fade within minutes08:07 The power of letting an urge pass and discovering what your mind/body really wants08:57 An urge is not an order; you do not have to act on it09:26 Free urge surfing resources available at https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/toolkit-optinTune in tomorrow for the next episode, and keep rethinking your relationship with drinking one gentle step at a time.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

Is Dry January on your mind, but you’re already feeling the weight of “new year, new me” expectations? In the first of this mini series, Anna welcomes the New Year with a gentle reality check for anyone considering a break from alcohol whether you’re looking to quit, cut down, or just get curious about your drinking habits.With compassion and clarity, she unpacks why pressure, grand declarations, and all-or-nothing thinking so often sabotages our best intentions in January. Instead, she offers a different way to embrace curiosity and exploration as you rethink your relationship with drinking.Anna invites you to notice your patterns, get honest about your hopes, and see “wobbles” as part of real, lasting change, not failure. Start the year with self-kindness, realistic strategies, and a plan that supports you, rather than scares you.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Why taking a break from drinking is brilliant anytime00:40 The cultural pressure of New Year’s resolutions02:14 “Challenge mode” and the trap of all-or-nothing thinking06:12 Why wobbles are proof of learning and progress07:45 How to make January an exploration, not a test08:11 The real question: What are you hoping to feel in your life this year?09:09 The first step: Start noticing your habits with kindness, not judgment09:20 Permission to be a beginner, and simple ways to support yourself10:01 Anna’s Alcohol Experiment and how to get real, daily support.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

Are you showing up for Christmas wanting change, but feeling swallowed up by old patterns, pressure, or the ever-present invitation to pour a drink? In this uplifting milestone episode of The Big Drink Rethink (100 episodes!), your host Anna Donaghey offers a heart-to-heart Christmas Day pep talk for anyone questioning their drinking, or simply craving a more honest and intentional holiday experience.Through lived experience and a coach’s insight, she gently unpacks why Christmas stirs up overwhelm, exhaustion, and even unexpected loneliness, alongside the pressure of old habits. She guides you back to your own intentions, with a practical, simple toolkit for resetting and choosing the version of you that feels truest even if you’re the only one who sees it right now.Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Anna’s gratitude for every listener whether brand new or following since the beginning00:31 Why Christmas is such a complicated mix of comfort and challenge01:53 Today isn’t about perfection02:17 You’re not the sum of your past Decembers03:03 Experiment: What does Christmas feel like without alcohol?03:52 How to navigate triggers: Pause, Check In, Choose. 05:21 You’re allowed to take up space in a different way06:13 Gentle encouragement to hold your ground with clarity06:39 Have a proud and present Christmas Day, plus where to find resources.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

Are your Christmas traditions serving you or just sabotaging your intentions for change? This time of year isn’t just about parties and presents, it’s a complex mix of family dynamics, old patterns, emotional triggers steeped in decades of drinking. In this powerful episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey takes a gentle yet practical approach to surviving (and actually enjoying) Christmas and New Year, especially if you’re rethinking your relationship with alcohol.Drawing on lived experience, psychology, and coaching tools, Anna unpacks why Christmas stirs up excitement, dread, and everything in between. She shares a step-by-step plan for protecting your peace, setting boundaries, dealing with triggers, and redefining who you want to be this season. Whether you’re aiming for your first alcohol-free Christmas or just want it to feel more intentional (and less chaotic), this episode puts clarity, self-kindness, and genuine joy at the heart of the festive season.Here are the Highlights: 00:41 Why Christmas stirs up mixed emotions and challenges03:09 How old patterns and family roles shape festive drinking06:32 The power of identity: Who do you want to be this Christmas?09:46 Mel Robbins “let them” theory to deal with other people’s behaviour11:10 Own your choices, and protect your peace13:54 How environments trigger old habits16:53 Staying rooted in your intentions19:11 Planning for emotional flashpoints over the Christmas period23:41 Visualisation worksheet: How to map out your big days27:34 Dealing with New Year's Eve hype and midnight pressure29:57 Why a “fresh” January is more important than a “perfect” December32:11 Regulate your nervous system with breathwork & micro-resets34:00 Moving through the season with clarity and pride35:00 Anna’s Alcohol Experiment and extra support for Dry JanuaryAnna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

What if the festive season could bring more connection, confidence, and genuine fun… without the dread (or the hangover)? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, your host Anna shares how to survive Christmas parties, whether you’re alcohol free, moderating, or just rethinking your relationship with drinking.Drawing on personal stories and practical coaching insight, Anna covers how Christmas parties often trigger reflex drinking and cultural pressures, and shares simple, powerful strategies to help you stay true to what you want from the season. From pre-party mindset resets to mastering your exit plan (hello, Irish Goodbye!). This episode is packed with real-life tools, gentle encouragement, and tips for waking up clear-headed, proud, and totally FOMO-free.Here are the Highlights:00:41 Why Christmas parties stir up both excitement and anxiety03:25 How cultural scripts and past habits hijack our choices08:05 The three key questions to set your party intentions11:25 Alcohol free versus moderation, how to pick your best path12:50 Busting myths, you’re not the only one cutting down!16:23 Pre-party grounding and creating “joy drinks”22:05 Social pressure, responses, and the power of changing the subject24:22 Finding your wingman and safe spaces26:42 Micro check-ins: Don’t confuse boredom with wanting a drink27:52 Planning your exit and mastering the Irish Goodbye30:37 End of night rituals for real rewardsReady to rethink your Christmas party season? Tune in to get inspired, energised, and equipped for whatever December throws your way.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

What if your relationship with alcohol was more about nourishment than willpower? In this eye-opening toolkit episode of The Big Drink Rethink, Anna shares one of her most powerful tools yet, a framework to help you discover what truly fuels and sustains you, making it easier to outgrow alcohol for good. Drawing on personal experience and Tara Mohr’s Core Nutrients Framework, Anna Donaghey guides you to uncover what you’re genuinely “thirsty for,” and how meeting these deeper needs naturally eases your reliance on booze. Whether you’re navigating the pressures of the holiday season or simply wanting to rethink your drinking habits, this episode is packed with practical exercises and gentle wisdom to help you feel more alive, grounded, and connected - no willpower required!Here are the Highlights:00:00 Habits stick not through willpower, but by feeling nourished 03:10 Christmas amplifies everything, joy, loneliness, and chaos 09:12 Alcohol offers temporary comfort and connection10:08 Reflect on your true cravings and emotional needs13:48 Creativity, belonging, and connection energise your inner life25:13 Prioritise self-nourishment, download the reflection sheet at thebigdrinkrethink.com/tools26:57 Identifying core needs brings clarity, immediate well-being, and builds lasting habits.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

Have you ever questioned whether alcohol might be quietly dimming the best parts of your life? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, Anna Donaghey chats to Dan D'Souza, co-founder of MUUSH to explore how quitting alcohol made room for more meaning, creativity, and connection. From high-flying networking in boozy city jobs to finding real nourishment in purpose and daily joy, Dan shares his journey through the “grey area” of drinking and the practical, inspiring steps he took to rethink his relationship with alcohol. Here are the Highlights:00:00 Intro: Dan D'Souza, co-founder of MUUSH, quit alcohol to prioritise purpose, and connection04:00 Missed grades led to studying marketing at Sussex09:54 Alcohol remains a social expectation and facilitator in business15:54 Drinking can still be a problem if it depletes or distracts you17:33 A turning point in 2023, after losing a bag with a phone and laptop21:08 Focus on what feels good and kind23:57 Removing alcohol creates space for reflection, opens new chapters, and fosters clarity for life's next steps27:44 Spending less on alcohol allows for more purposeful spending 35:24 Focus on identifying priorities37:07 Bridging taste and function in non-alcoholic drinks43:00 Balance values and small pleasures while maintaining clarity and energy46:02 Seeking professional help and finding inspiration from others49:14 Friendships can evolve to provide emotional supportAnna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebeliefscoach.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.ukAbout Dan D’Souza:Dan D’Souza, co-founder of MUUSH - Lion’s Mane-based drinks brand. On a mission to bridge taste and function with Lion's Mane based drinks.10+ years marketing experience at household name brands including Virgin, Octopus investments, Citibank.His story really captures the grey area so many people find themselves in with alcohol. Dan stopped drinking in October 2023 whilst working in previous businesses and felt there needed to be more functional and non-alcohol drinks available.Connect with Dan:Linkedin:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-d-souza/?originalSubdomain=uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_d.souza/?hl=en Linkedin (MUUSH): https://www.linkedin.com/company/104243925/admin/dashboard/Instagram (MUUSH): https://www.instagram.com/drinkmuush/?hl=en Website: www.muush.co

Letting go, relaxing, and releasing especially without alcohol can feel out of reach for many. In this insightful, toolbox-packed Q&A episode, Anna Donaghey tackles questions from listeners and coaching clients about why it can be so hard to relax or "let go," even after quitting drinking. This episode explores how patterns of control, nervous system wiring, shame, and old beliefs shape our inability to relax, and offers practical, compassionate tools for beginning to unlearn these habits and find true safety and release.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Introduction: Listener questions about “letting go”01:57 Listener feels unable to soften and release03:18 The nervous system doesn’t know how to release on its own04:24 It's not that you're broken, the body has learned holding on is safe05:33 Why we grip so tightly, and the link to safety and self-protection06:42 Fear of falling apart, feeling emotions, and losing control07:38 What does your tightness think it’s protecting?08:05 Why “trying hard” to release is counterproductive09:18 Create conditions where release can happen naturally12:05 The importance of permission in self-care and self-worth12:48 Seeking support, therapy, and accepting oneself14:06 Start with possibility17:19 Replace drinking rituals with calming alternatives18:04 Healing is slow, small acts accumulate and become safety signals19:09 Layers of trust: trust in self, trust in others, and (even) trust in life22:31 “I don’t have to carry this anymore”; letting go doesn’t mean giving up22:50 Release isn’t a destination, it’s a returning rhythm like breathing25:03 Micro-moments of softening as daily healing gestures26:16 Please submit your questions for future episodes.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebeliefscoach.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.uk

How deep do the patterns that drive our drinking really go? In this transformative episode, Anna talks to Dr. Evette Rose, internationally renowned holistic counselor, trauma recovery expert, and author of Metaphysical Anatomy to reveal how trauma, inherited stress, and family conditioning can hardwire us for coping mechanisms like alcohol, long before we ever pick up a drink. You’ll discover addiction is not just about willpower or habits. It’s about healing the imprints left by childhood, family history, and even foetal development. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking not just sobriety, but true freedom from old emotional wiring.​Here are the Highlights:00:00 Introduction: Exploring trauma, nervous system wiring, and alcohol03:25 Growing up: alcoholism, violence, and longing for connection07:36 How childhood patterns of stress shape identity09:18 Repeating family patterns in relationships12:09 Intergenerational trauma and addiction predisposition15:10 The impact of maternal stress on addiction risk17:01 The placenta as a “memory bank” for trauma18:36 Not just nurture, trauma transfer at a cellular and biological level22:01 How generational trauma can be “programmed” into you28:38 Coping mechanisms beyond alcohol33:00 Why focusing only on “fixing” yourself keeps you stuck 35:37 Rapid regulation exercises for triggers and cravings 41:22 Practical body-based tools for rewiring safety48:00 What if you don’t know your family history? 51:05 Healing not as correcting flaws, but updating old survival patterns.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebeliefscoach.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.ukAbout Dr. Evette RoseDr. Evette Rose is an internationally renowned holistic counsellor, trauma recovery expert, and author of 21 books, including the global best-seller Metaphysical Anatomy Volume 1: Your Body Is Talking, Are You Listening? This groundbreaking work explores 722 ailments and the emotional roots behind them, based on over 7,000 client case studies from around the world.Evette specialises in helping people decode the hidden emotional messages behind physical symptoms - and her methods have helped thousands break free from chronic pain, trauma, and emotional stress. Her work has been recognised globally, not least when she recently presented her latest research at a prestigious medical conference in London, UK.Website: https://www.metaphysicalanatomy.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.evetteroseofficial/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metaphysicalanatomy/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGkoVX_JnMTvGGH3Q5LJIWwEvette’s Free eBook:https://metaphysicalanatomy.com/free-ebook-restoring-the-emotional-body/

Is quitting alcohol just about the drink itself, or is there something deeper at play? Anna Donaghey sits down with trauma-informed healer Emma Lyons, founder of The Trauma Matrix, to explore how shame hides beneath so many of our habits, including drinking, and keeps us stuck in self-judgment, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. If you’ve ever felt that gnawing ‘not enough’ feeling, or wondered why cutting back on booze feels so hard, this episode will help you see what’s really fueling the urge and give you powerful new tools for release.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Introduction: Why releasing alcohol requires releasing shame02:08 Meet Emma Lyons04:49 Family scapegoat, inherited shame & the roots of addiction07:54 Why therapy doesn’t work until you address shame09:00 Shame vs. guilt: The toxic cocktail that attacks our sense of self12:40 Manipulation, compliance, and the gaslighting of “for your own good”13:39 How shame hijacks the body and drives coping strategies17:16 Shame shuts down empathy19:37 Narcissists, repression, and the Velcro effect of internalised shame22:01 Scapegoats, golden children, and not being yourself25:54 Imposter syndrome, perfectionism and anxiety are all just shame with better PR28:43 Numbing shame with alcohol30:51 How not-enoughness fuels drinking32:01 Why shame is always toxic and why society says otherwise35:41 How children can pick up parental shame, accidentally and unconsciously38:39 Drinking to numb, feeling flawed, and repeating the pattern39:31 You can’t bully shame into submission48:17 What happens when shame is released48:42 Why alcohol loses its job when shame no longer needs numbing49:28 Where to find Emma Lyons (+free gift for listeners)Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebeliefscoach.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.ukAbout Emma Lyons:Emma Lyons helps women break up with the shame voice that’s been sabotaging their power.She’s not here to help you “overcome self-sabotage”, she’s here to help you dismantle the internalized narcissist posing as your inner voice.Emma’s work dives deeper than mindset. She exposes the nervous system-level survival responses that keep brilliant women stuck in guilt, people-pleasing, burnout, and invisibility, even after years of therapy, coaching, and healing.Her approach blends somatic work, trauma decoding, and intuitive energy healing to guide women out of shame loops and back into embodied self-trust.Through her signature framework, The Trauma Matrix, and her new program Evict the Narc Within, Emma calls out the cultural and familial systems that condition women to abandon themselves - and shows them how to finally break free.Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/trauma.matrixLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-lyons-b482021b3/For Emma’s FREE guide: "5 Signs You Need to Break Up with Your Inner Narcissist"https://tinyurl.com/nottodaynarc

Is change really something to fear or the doorway to a brighter, more intentional life? What if the moments when everything feels uncertain are precisely when new possibilities emerge? In this uplifting episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey welcomes author and coach Eleanor Tweddell, whose book Another Door Opens explores the messy, hopeful, and deeply human process of navigating personal transformation.Together, Anna and Eleanor unpack what it means to face closed doors whether it's about drinking, work, relationships, or life itself and how to turn endings into powerful new beginnings. If you’re grappling with resistance to change (or maybe just a nagging sense that something isn’t right), this conversation is packed with understanding, psychological insight, and practical strategies to help you move forward.Here are the Highlights:00:00 Introduction: Meet Eleanor Tweddell, author and change expert02:08 Why closed doors aren’t the end—change as an opening03:04 Redundancy, discomfort, and listening to the inner voice04:38 The Do Lecture Bootcamp, risk, and growth05:48 Resistance vs. readiness: why “I’ll do it tomorrow” feels safer08:33 The power and necessity of ownership when facing change12:40 Micro-change in daily life: choice, triggers, and how we respond14:55 The inevitability of change: we’re already masters at adapting17:37 The importance of the pause: creating space and acknowledging what you need19:32 Why alcohol is often our default “pause” and what listening to our emotions can reveal22:14 Turning resistance into reflection: the first step to possibility24:45 The messy middle: limiting beliefs, discomfort, and the courage to stay and learn33:34 Support, connection, and the ripple effect of personal change34:56 Playfulness as a tool: experiments, brainstorming, and expanding your sense of what’s possible.Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experimentAnd apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethinkAbout the host Anna:Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.Connect with Anna:Website: thebeliefscoach.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonagheyInstagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethinkProduced by winteraudio.co.ukAbout Eleanor Tweddell:Eleanor Tweddell is a specialist in helping people, teams, and organisations navigate change with confidence and clarity. As the founder of Another Door Opens, she encourages individuals to rethink work and embrace change as an opportunity rather than a setback. Her work spans organisational transformation, leadership development, and personal reinvention, guiding businesses and individuals through uncertainty with practical tools and powerful change narratives. Buy the Book - Another Door Opens; 5 steps for navigating change.Find out more about Eleanor Tweddell at https://www.eleanortweddell.com/Connect with Eleanor:Website: https://www.eleanortweddell.com/Instagram: instagram/anotherdoorukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/