Soberly Speaking

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingIf you’re drawn to the mystical, curious about manifestation, or just open to the idea of magic, this episode is for you. Sunshine, the pink-haired witch, is a psychic medium, Soul Healer, Reiki Master, and High Priestess. A recovering alcoholic, she guides witches in recovery to reclaim their magic and step fully into their highest purpose.We explore the spiritual side of addiction, how dark entities are formed, how they attach to us, and what it’s like to live with them. Sunshine shares from experience, and it wasn’t until her partner gave her an ultimatum to attend 90 meetings in 90 days that she hit her own version of rock bottom.Leave judgment at the door, open your heart and mind, and let a little magic weave its way into your world.Trigger warnings: Suicide and substance abuse.Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015⁠⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠⁠Creator & Host- ⁠⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠⁠Image & Logo- ⁠⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠⁠In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Wayne lost everything to drugs, his home, his family, and almost his mind. Growing up as one of four boys, he prided himself on being the last man standing when it came to drink. But once drugs entered his life, everything changed. He spiralled into psychosis for days, ran through national parks convinced people were after him, spent time in multiple rehabs, and lived on the streets with no support, no one to talk to, and invisible to all who crossed his path on their commute.Wayne shares a powerful insight into what it really feels like to be lonely, exhausted, and afraid without a home, and challenges us to reflect on how society treats those experiencing homelessness.Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, suicide and self-harm.Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠⁠Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠Creator & Host- ⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠Image & Logo- ⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingJessie grew up with a mother she calls a psycho. Her mum’s life was ruled by drugs and alcohol, and those same substances eventually claimed her. Jessie thought she would feel relief when her mum died, but instead she was hit with crushing guilt.  Her grief does not stop there. Her sister, who endured the worst of their mother’s abuse, has now followed in the same destructive footsteps. Jessie also grieves for her niece and nephew, growing up robbed of the mother they deserved. Addiction’s ripple effects run deep in her family, from eating disorders to skin-picking, living proof that it does not just take one life, it devastates everyone in its orbit.Trigger warnings: Eating disorders, suicide, substance abuse, skin-picking, sex work, child abuse.Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠⁠Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015⁠⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠⁠Creator & Host- ⁠⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠⁠Image & Logo- ⁠⁠Jasmine Rule⁠⁠In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Today I’m joined by Vanessa Kredler, a Sydney-based Counsellor and Psychotherapist who specialises in helping adults recover from food and sugar addiction, disordered eating, trauma, and other addictive behaviours. Vanessa combines her own lived experience with clinical expertise to guide people towards lasting recovery.In this conversation, Vanessa answers all your burning questions about food addiction, including:What actually creates food addictionWhy so many people switch to sugar after going soberHow to stop the relentless food noiseHow to finally break the cycle of food addiction…and so much more.If you’ve ever wondered whether sugar is your “new addiction” or you’re curious about how to find freedom from food obsession, this episode is for you.Work with Vanessa hereTrigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse.Ready to share your story? Email: ⁠hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au⁠Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠Creator & Host- ⁠Julia Rangiheuea⁠Image & Logo- ⁠Jasmine Rule⁠In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingFor Stevie, putting down the drink has actually been the easy part of sobriety. It is facing the parenting guilt that cuts the deepest. The memories of being absent, snapping at her kids, and wishing time with them away just so she could get back to drinking still haunt her. She carries the weight of those years, constantly wondering what her children will remember most.Stevie became a mum young, with three little ones depending on her before she had even turned 24. She felt completely drowned by motherhood, turned to self-harm, and at her lowest moments tried to end her own life.Today, Stevie joins me as she and her partner prepare to celebrate one year alcohol-free, a milestone she never thought she would live to see.Trigger warning: This episode discusses suicide, self-harm and substance abuse.Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Braiden Tonks grew up in his father’s shadow, carrying a reputation for violence and anger. He leaned into that image to start selling party drugs in his hometown in Tasmania. After trying ice at an after-party, he quickly escalated to smuggling it across the Tasmania to Melbourne border. On one return trip, he was caught with $40k in cash on his body and spent weeks on the run until a SWAT team raided his bedroom while he slept.But one night, while trying heroin with a stranger, Braiden faced a moment that would haunt him forever when the person beside him never woke up.Follow Braiden Tonks on InstagramTrigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and graphic details of an overdose.Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingToday’s episode is a little different, and deeply personal for me. Not in a traumatic way, but because Rachel is both my friend and my hypnotherapist. What you’ll hear feels more like an intimate chat between two friends than a formal interview. We dive into my own session around sugar addiction, explore how subconscious beliefs are formed, how new neurological pathways can be created, and even touch on past lives.I recorded this back in May and kept putting off releasing it. I’ve had a block around this episode. Is it fear? Fear of judgment for the woo-woo parts, or admitting to another addiction? Or maybe me desperately trying to hold onto an episode I perceive as more personal and unstructured than usual. Either way, we’re all still works in progress, and showing that is okay too.Work with Rachel: https://rachelcrethar.com/Follow Higher Ground on IG: https://www.instagram.com/highergroundhypnochannel/?hl=enTrigger warning: This episode discusses suicide. Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Adriana’s life has been shaped by alcohol since before she was born. Growing up with an alcoholic father who abused her mother, she always knew something was wrong, but it wasn’t until she confronted her parents that she discovered the full truth about her family.Her own drinking went unchecked for years, hidden behind constant travel and a busy life. She had always told herself, “Next Monday, I’ll start.” But one Sunday in her mid-thirties, Adriana downloaded an app to help, and that moment changed everything.Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse and domestic violence.Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingOn the exact one-year anniversary of her fiancé Kris’s death, Taylor sat with me to share her story.Just twelve months earlier, she had said her goodnights, told Kris she loved him, and gone to sleep beside him. Hours later, she was on the floor trying desperately to bring him back. Kris had died of an overdose.This episode is about grief in its rawest form. It is about loving an addict until their final breath, and mourning two lives at once: the life you have been forced to live without them, and the life you thought you would share together.Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse and graphic descriptions of an overdose.Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Jeremy Donovan spent his whole life believing he was Māori. Orphaned young, he was whāngai’d (fostered) into a Māori family. But a court appearance for graffiti charges revealed the truth: he is Aboriginal.Suddenly, everything shifted. Who am I? Where do I belong? Especially when the only images of Aboriginal people in the media are negative?This feeling of displacement led Jeremy down a dark path, using cocaine every single day, as he tried to navigate a world where he never fully felt at home.Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse.Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingNicole spent 26 years in active addiction, starting with heroin at just 17 after entering a violent relationship. What began as “rough play fighting,” a red flag she recognises now, escalated until she made a desperate escape through a window while her abuser was in the shower.To fund her habit, Nicole built a shoplifting operation so elaborate it could have been a movie plot. We’re not talking about swiping a handbag or a few groceries from Coles. She would dress up as rostered staff and pretend to work in the very stores she was robbing.Alongside drugs, Nicole also battled a gambling addiction, which she admits wasn’t all bad at the time. For her, it offered something she craved, a place where people knew her name and where she felt seen and connected.Now, over five years clean, Nicole works in a women’s rehab, supporting others with the insight only lived experience can give.Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, domestic violence and Gambling.Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingMarni’s earliest memory is knowing she wasn’t in the right body. Born male and adopted from Ethiopia, she spent her childhood feeling like a stranger to herself. At 18, Marni had bottom surgery, transitioning from a man to a woman- believing it would finally make her feel complete. But the relief she hoped for never came.During her modelling career, it was in one of the most affluent suburbs in Australia that she was introduced to ice and quickly became addicted. Not just to substances, but to danger itself. Anything taboo, anything scandalous, she chased. That search for thrill led her into the arms of an abusive partner, and what followed was a nightmare she barely survived.Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, violence, graphic descriptions of SA and suicide ideations.Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingIt was just a cocktail in Bali, at a nightclub every millennial has been to if you've partied there: Bounty Nightclub.But Ashley King woke up permanently blind.What started as the trip of a lifetime for 19-year-old Ashley ended in tragedy. On her final night out with friends, she ordered what she thought was a vodka-based cocktail from a well-known bar.It was laced with methanol, and it cost her her eyesight. Ashley joins me today as she's trying to raise more awareness around methanol poisoning. Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuseReady to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingWhat happens when a party boy struggling with addiction goes on reality TV?Davey Lloyd was on Season One of The Bachelorette with Sam Frost — and in true Davey style, he showed up straight off a bender, going on to become one of the biggest kooks in Australia.Always feeling like he was living in his late brother’s shadow, Davey found his place in the party scene, where he finally received the love and adoration he’d been chasing his whole life.I really enjoyed this chat with Davey. His origin story felt eerily close to my own. So much so, I even shared a little secret I never thought I’d give oxygen to…Trigger warning: This episode contains themes of substance abuse and descriptions of an overdose.Ready to share your story? Email hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

This is the final part of Shelley’s story. You'll need to go back and listen to Parts 1 and 2 of "Shelley Was Brutally Attacked by a Stranger."We pick up where we left off, back to when Shelley first met her ex. As her relationship with a narcissistic partner unravels, she’s left raising two young sons, one of whom is severely autistic.In this episode, Shelley grapples with the decision to let her estranged mother back into her life. She’s just starting to rebuild, until one night in the emergency room changes everything. Then, child protection shows up at her door.Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse.Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Tracey-Lee was only four years old when a male family member abused her. Throughout her childhood, the trauma was compounded by denial: She was told a version of events that didn’t match the truth she felt in her body. This rewriting of her reality left a deep and lasting fracture in her sense of self. By the time she reached adulthood, this broken trust in herself made her vulnerable, almost a target. She met a man on an internet forum who would become the father of her child. What followed was a devastating chapter marked by relentless abuse. He set her on fire, ripped out her hair, and forced her to inhale Glen 20 disinfectant spray while she was pregnant.and in more recent years, Tracey-Lee met someone new and became addicted to ice. Despite the addiction, she and her partner managed to parent, take family holidays, and appear to function normally, a myth she’s determined to bust, shedding light on the hidden realities of addiction and family life.Trigger warning: we discuss substance abuse, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, and coercive control.Ready to share your story? Email hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingI don’t say this lightly, but this is one of those stories that stays with you for days, maybe even weeks.We begin with Shelley as a child, witnessing her older brother accidentally take his own life while they were playing. But somehow, that’s not the most traumatic part of her story.Shelley grew up in Housing Commission while both her parents battled addiction. She was exposed to, and a victim of, domestic violence. She started running away from home — and it was during one of those nights, when she was just in Year 9, that her life changed forever. She was assaulted by multiple boys.Over In part two, we hear what happens after Shelly runs for her life — and the huge, chaotic night that follows.But it unfortunately it dosen't end there, Shelley is still a teenager when she’s attacked by a complete stranger during a walk and dragged under a house to be sexually assaulted.Part two of Shelley’s story is up now over on The Unspoken. It’s free to join for the first 7 days, and you can cancel anytime. I’ll pop the link in the show notes — or you can join directly through your Apple Podcasts or Spotify app now.Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, domestic violence, violence and substance abuse. Ready to share your story? Email hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

All Zac ever wanted was to be his dad’s best friend.As a kid, he longed for the kind of closeness he saw between his friends and their own fathers, but his own reality couldn’t have been more different.Zac was known as the outgoing, loveable party boy — traits that gave his addiction a nod of approval to continue. After eight overdoses, toxic relationships, and a moment of deep embarrassment in front of his new partner, he knew he was heading down the exact same path as his father…In this episode, we talk about father wounds, healing, and what it means to be a man when yours never showed you how.Trigger Warning: we discuss themes of substance abuse in this episode.Follow Zac on InstagramReady to share your story? Email hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingSkye tried P, also known as methamphetamine, once — out of spite, to get back at her partner who was already using. She had no idea it would cost her everything.Skye and her partner enabled each other in their addiction. They isolated themselves and went from living in the hood, as Skye called it, to emergency housing, and eventually to living in their car, spending the little money they had from benefits solely on drugs.Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of substance use and domestic violence.Ready to share your story? Email hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeakingChild sexual abuse has been touched on in a few of my past episodes, but in Manda’s story, it stretches across generations.For Manda, she was sexually abused at just five years old, at the hands of someone known to the family. Years later, she would face the unimaginable: walking in on her own daughter being violated. And in a cruel twist, Manda unknowingly fell in love with a pedophile.The trauma Manda experienced as a child shaped so much of her adult life. She found herself in violent relationships and When we spoke, Manda was calling me from a hotel room, where she had been living with her children after being homeless.Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse, substance use, pedophilia and domestic violence.Ready to share your story? Email hello@soberlyspeaking.com.auDisclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & Host- Julia RangiheueaImage & Logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.