Love Sober Podcast

In this episode of the Love Sober Podcast, Kate and Helen unpack that end-of-summer exhaustion and the strange, wobbly transition into autumn. They explore liminal spaces – the in‑between times when we’ve outgrown an old version of ourselves but aren’t yet anchored in the new – and how this shows up in midlife, sobriety, grief, and the changing seasons. Kate shares the inspiration behind her new program Midlife Alchemy (starts September 21st 2026) , created for sober and sober‑curious midlife women who are navigating hormones, identity shifts, and life’s big rites of passage. They talk about why rest is radical, how nervous system literacy can be a superpower, and the magic of women’s circles as trauma‑informed, neuro‑inclusive spaces for support and growth. If you’re feeling tired, and wondering how to tend your nervous system instead of pouring a drink, this conversation offers compassion, practical tools, and a little midlife magic. Find out more about Midlife Alchemy and book a discovery call at LoveSober.com → Circles → Midlife Alchemy. https://www.lovesober.com/midlife-alchemy DISCOVERY CALL WITH KATE for 1-2-1 COACHING OR PROGRAMS

In this episode of the Love Sober Podcast, Kate and Helen explore summer sobriety and how to build a realistic, compassionate summer toolkit using ideas from Kate’s book “Love Your Sober Year.” They talk about seasons, hormones, grief, parenting, and why women need a softer, cyclical approach to recovery – plus lots of very practical tools for getting through summer alcohol-free. We cover: Why seasons and cycles (monthly, yearly, life stages) matter for women in recovery The pressure of “perfect summer” energy and how to lower expectations Practical summer toolkit ideas: AF + nootropic drinks, electrolytes, fans, seasonal food, simple rituals with kids How to plan for big days out, holidays, and comedown days without using booze Turning “I should be drinking” moments into chances to protect memories, honour grief, and stay connected Grab a cuppa and let's chat x Buy Love Your Sober Year: Work 1:1 with Kate Clarity Call

Going on holiday without alcohol can feel terrifying – especially with family dynamics, all‑inclusive buffets, and airport Wetherspoons in the mix. In this episode, we unpack sober holidays with real stories, practical tools, and a lot of honesty (and laughter). We talk about: First alcohol‑free holidays (city breaks, all‑inclusive, family trips) Common trigger points: airports, poolside, cocktail hour, family stress How to prep like a “sober holiday prepper” (visualisation + planning) Sensory toolkit: headphones, essential oils, movement, journaling Protecting your nervous system while you travel Non‑alcoholic “ritual swaps” for cocktail hour and welcome drinks Accountability on the go: sober buddies, messaging, photos-as-check‑ins When big emotions or grief hit on holiday – and why that’s not “failing” Reframing “holiday” back to “holy day” and making real memories If you’re worried about staying alcohol‑free on holiday, you are not alone, and you don’t have to white‑knuckle it. Grab a cuppa and let's chat. X For support and community: Love Sober – lovesober.com Soberistas (UK) She Recovers and other sober communities online

In this episode of Love Sober Podcast, Kate talks with Victoria Vanstone, founder of Sober Awkward, writer, podcaster and author of A Thousand Wasted Sundays. Victoria shares her journey from Reading pub culture and wild backpacking years (including blowing off part of her finger with a firework) through motherhood, anxiety and the moment she realised she could “step off the roundabout” and choose a sober life. Kate and Victoria explore people‑pleasing, self‑abandonment, ADHD and rejection sensitivity, perimenopause and midlife rage, and how sobriety becomes a messy, beautiful “welcome mat” back home to yourself. Growing up in Reading pub culture, wild backpacking years and a Millennium firework accident that blew off part of her finger – Victoria Vanstone always wore chaos as a badge of honour. Motherhood, anxiety and Sunday shame finally brought her to a quiet rock bottom: “I just can’t f*cking do this anymore.” We talk about people‑pleasing, self‑abandonment, ADHD and rejection sensitivity, perimenopause, and why sobriety is the most interesting thing she’s ever done. Plus: social pivots in midlife, sober retreats in Thailand, the chicken dance, and rediscovering childlike joy without alcohol. Listen now on Love Sober Podcast and share with a sober or sober‑curious friend who needs this. Links & Resources Victoria Vanstone / Sober Awkward Website: [Sober Awkward] https://www.soberawkward.com/ Podcast: https://www.soberawkward.com/ Books: 1000 Wasted Sundays and Mumming: A Year of Trying and Failing to Be a Better Parent – [Book links]https://www.soberawkward.com/ Thailand sober retreats with Sober Dave: https://www.soberawkward.com/ Kate & Love Sober Love Sober website & programs: [Love Sober] https://www.lovesober.com/ Group program: Love Your Sober Summer – 6‑week group coaching for navigating summer triggers, holidays, nervous system regulation and boundaries: [Love Your Sober Summer] https://www.lovesober.com/love-your-sober-summer Books & ideas mentioned The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober – Catherine Gray Hagitude – Sharon Blackie Women Who Run with the Wolves – Clarissa Pinkola Estés Creatrix / Burning Woman – Lucy H. Pearce ADHD & Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) https://www.soberawkward.com/ Vic's new book 'Mumming - A Year of Trying to be a Better Parent' is out now! Grab a cuppa and let's chat x

What if the cracks aren’t something to hide? In this episode of the Love Sober Podcast, we explore the Japanese art of kintsugi — the practice of repairing broken pottery with gold — as a powerful metaphor for the sober journey, midlife healing, and self-compassion. Together, we work with a kintsugi kit and reflect on the principles of imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. We talk honestly about what happens when life doesn’t go to plan, when coping mechanisms stop working, and how recovery asks us to show up gently, consistently, and truthfully — one day at a time. Rather than striving for perfection or a “fixed” version of ourselves, this conversation explores the possibility that healing might actually deepen us. That the places we’ve cracked open can become places of wisdom, softness, creativity, and connection. In this episode we explore: What kintsugi teaches us about sobriety and recovery The emotional weight of perfectionism in midlife Why self-compassion matters more than self-criticism Impermanence, nervous systems, and learning to stay present How alcohol-free living creates space for repair and reconnection The beauty of becoming whole — not flawless Small daily practices that help us keep showing up for ourselves This is a gentle, reflective conversation for anyone navigating sobriety, burnout, perimenopause, emotional healing, or simply the messy beauty of being human. You do not have to become perfect to begin again. Journal Prompt Where in your life are you being invited to soften rather than fix? Mentioned in this episode Kintsugi: the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold Self-compassion in recovery Nervous system regulation and embodied healing Midlife sobriety and identity shifts If this episode resonated, share it with a friend or leave a review — it helps more women find the conversation. Let's grab a cuppa and chat Kate & Helen x

Podcast notes: Kate Codrington on Second Spring, menopause, rest and elderhood In this episode I speak with the wonderful Kate Codrington about menopause as a powerful life transition rather than a “decline”. We explore the idea of Second Spring, the seasonal map of midlife, sobriety, rest, grief, nervous system repair, women’s circles, and the emerging path into elderhood. Main themes Menopause as a transition, not a decline Kate challenges the cultural story that menopause is a downward slope, reframing it as a sensitive, powerful transition into a more authentic self.Drawing on Chinese medicine and menstrual cycle awareness, Kate explains post-menopause as a renewed spring: a time of clearer energy, deeper wisdom and a new relationship with self. The end of people-pleasing We talk about oestrogen, belonging, fawning, niceness and the “good daughter of the patriarchy” — and why menopause can bring rage, clarity and a glorious reduction in giving a fuck. Sobriety and menopause as awakenings Both sobriety and menopause ask us to stop numbing, stop performing and begin listening to what is actually true. Rest as deep medicine Kate shares how yoga nidra and a simple 15-minute daily stop became part of her own healing. We talk about rest not as another self-care task, but as a way of softening the nervous system over time. The foundations matter Sleep, hydration, nourishing food, less alcohol, pleasure, movement, connection and nervous system care are not glamorous quick fixes, but they are the real work. Grief, loss and the seasons We explore autumn and winter as maps for grief, shedding and endings — and how grief can deepen our commitment to life.Midlife often brings both a fierce need for solitude and a longing for women’s community. We talk about the shadow and healing of returning to circle. Elderhood and contribution Kate speaks beautifully about elderhood as authenticity, discernment, alignment, contribution and modelling another way of living — not necessarily loud leadership, but quiet wisdom. Mentioned in this episode Kate Codrington’s books: Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to Menopause The Perimenopause Journal Kate’s podcast: Life — An Inside Job FIND KATE AT https://www.katecodrington.co.uk/ Love Sober note If this conversation speaks to where you are, my six-week group programme Love Your Sober Summer begins on 21 June. We’ll explore summer triggers, socialising, holidays, rest, nervous system support and how to feel more like yourself without relying on alcohol. Small group, six live coaching calls, seasonal tools and support. More at lovesober.com .

Episode 1: Tiny Joy for When Life Feels F***ed with Kate Baily and guest host Helen Lees Welcome back to the Love Sober Podcast — the podcast for the sober and sober curious. In this first episode of the new season, Kate is joined by new guest host Helen Lees for a heartfelt conversation about tiny joy — those small, sensory, grounding moments that can help us through grief, overwhelm, cravings, stress, and the sheer weight of life. Together, Kate and Helen explore how alcohol can disconnect us from real pleasure and presence, and how sobriety helps us gently rebuild a toolkit of comfort, connection and self-resourcing. They talk about grief, motherhood, nervous system care, sensory rituals, dopamine, play, cravings, and the surprising power of tiny things — from soft clothes and candles to pesto, poached eggs, cold water, dogs, lipstick and woodland light. This is an honest, compassionate conversation about finding anchors in difficult times, and learning how to stay in the solution, one small moment at a time. In this episode, we explore: What “tiny joy” means in sober life Why small comforts matter in grief, stress and early sobriety How alcohol promises relief but disconnects us from real joy Building a sober toolkit for cravings and emotional overwhelm Sensory interventions and micro-pleasures that help regulate the nervous system Play, ritual, nature and self-parenting in recovery Why sobriety is about what we add in, not just what we remove Mentioned in this episode: The Embodied Queen Retreat with Rachel Brady and Cybele Botran Love Sober Life School — our 12-week spring/summer programme for sober and sober curious women Reflection questions from this episode: What does tiny joy mean to you personally? When have you noticed alcohol promising joy but disconnecting you from it? What small pleasures help interrupt cravings or bring you back to yourself? If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch: www.lovesober.com Links: Love Sober website: https://www.lovesober.com Love Sober Life School: https://www.lovesober.com Contact us: hello@lovesober.com

What if you could meet yourself with the care you always needed? In this episode, I talk with Cybele Botran about the transformative practice of reparenting. Cybele is a trusted guide for women on the path of emotional healing. She is a Certified Trauma-Informed SHERECOVERS® Coach, an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and a Mother Hunger® Trained Facilitator. Her work centers on reparenting as a powerful modality for transformation. Through one-to-one coaching, courses, groups, and retreats, Cybele creates supportive spaces where women can reconnect with their most tender selves. ✨ Where to find Cybele Instagram Facebook LinkedIn https://www.cybelebotran.com/ 🌿 Retreat Invitation 🌿 Cybele and Rachel are delighted to be co-hosting a Luxury Healing Retreat for Sober or Sober Curious Women this November in Cornwall, UK. A Luxury Healing Retreat for Sober or Sober Curious Women to Reclaim Their Power 📅 November 9–15, 2025 | Cornwall, UK 👭 Women Only | Alcohol-Free 🏡 5-Star Luxury https://www.rachelbradyyoga.com/luxury-cornwall-retreat-sober-yoga-women My substack AMAZING OFFER!!! Email me for a £333 discount code for the retreat at kate@lovesober.com

Midlife isn’t a crisis — it’s an initiation. In this episode, I explore the Queen Phase archetype, why sobriety is a midlife superpower, and how we can rise into this season with clarity, energy, and sovereignty. 👉 Join Midlife Alchemy Mentoring — a 12-week journey for sober women in midlife. Early Bird ends 1st Sept. Secure your place here 🌿 EARLY BIRD ENDS SEPT 1st use code ALCHEMY20 to claim. Only 5 places left. Grab a cuppa and let's chat! Kate x

Welcome to the Love Sober podcast, a supportive space for the sober and sober curious. In this episode, Kate Baily interviews Maggie Klaassens, a certified alcohol-free coach and founder of The Sober Summit and Sober Circle community. Maggie shares her inspiring journey to sobriety, navigating Mommy Wine Culture and Covid and her motivation to create the free transformative online event The Sober Summit (23.04.25 -25.04.25) and the powerful impact of being part of a supportive sober community. Join us as we explore the benefits, challenges, and tools of the sober lifestyle, and discover the empowering journey towards living an alcohol-free life. Grab a cuppa and let's chat! KX Register for your free seat at THE SOBER SUMMIT online event on April 23-25 2025. Here 👇👇👇👇👇 https://soberlifecollective.spiffy.co/a/7m3cxEn1BG/4343 Follow Maggie in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesobersummit/

In this episode I talk to Casey M Davidson about how to fall in love with Sober October. We discuss habit change, early sobriety tools and the practices that have helped us to fall in love with our sobriety. Casey McGuire Davidson is a Certified Life + Sobriety Coach who helps busy women quit drinking and create lives they love without alcohol at Hello Someday Coaching and the host of The Hello Someday Podcast. The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women is a Top 100 Mental Health podcast, ranked in the Top 0.5% of all global podcasts with over 1.5 MM downloads. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Good Morning America, NBC News, CNBC and over 100 sobriety, motherhood, mental health and wellness podcasts and publications. Links: Love Sober Community Love Sober Coaching Love Sober Life School 3 month program for Holidays, Christmas and Dry Jan Grab a cuppa and let's chat. Kate x

In this episode I talk to the founder of The Menopause School, Fiona Catchpowle who gives us a masterclass in understanding hormonal health & ageing, peri menopause, menopause and holistic health, HRT and alcohol plus practical ways to empower us to make choices for our health. Fiona Catchpowle is a Menopause Doula and the Creator and Founder of The Menopause School - a centre of excellence for holistic practitioners to become menstrual health informed. Even with a background in Biology and Holistic Therapy, Fiona’s own experience of menopause was like hitting a brick wall. How could it be possible to reach 47 and not know about something called perimenopause? Had she missed the menopause memo? It soon became apparent that there was no education, formal or otherwise, for menstruators of any age to learn about the menstrual health journey and how to best support themselves. Driven to make a change in menstrual and menopause health education, Fiona built The Menopause School. Fiona is on a mission to change the face of menopause care by creating a global collective of Menopause Doulas who will guide, nurture and support others along the menstrual health timeline from periods to perimenopause and beyond. Social Media Links Facebook @TheMenopauseSchool https://www.facebook.com/TheMenopauseSchool Instagram @TheMenopauseSchool https://www.instagram.com/themenopauseschool Twitter @menopauseschool https://twitter.com/MenopauseSchool LinkedIn @TheMenopauseSchool https://www.linkedin.com/company/themenopauseschool

In this episode I talk to a fabulous sober sis who this year has been sober for 30 YEARS! YAS queen...Arlina Allen! With this kind of sobriety timeline, Arlina has an amazing perspective on the shifting cultural narratives around sobriety and addiction over the last three decades and the expansion of all patchworks and pathways of recovery and has a refreshing take on the 12 Steps from her badass journey. With her trademark down-to-earth, humorous take on life and sobriety you are going to want to hang out with her for the next hour, I promise! We talk about our differing approaches to sobriety, semantics of the steps, how to reframe them to fit a female friendly, secular experience and how to find empowerment even within the language of 'powerlessness,' and how the menopause is for us gals and why booze has no place there. Grab a cuppa and let's chat. Kate x Arlina Allen is a Certified Recovery Coach (IAPRC), Certified Hypnotist CH, the Founder of Sober Life School, and host of the award winning recovery podcast "The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast" with over 300 episodes. She helps busy women quit drinking and create a life they love! She has been sober since 4/23/94, happily married for 27 years, Mother of two amazing young adult men and Mama to Teddy, the family English Bulldog. Through her 30 years of lived experience in sobriety and working with other women to heal their relationship with alcohol and other addictions, she developed a special intuitiveness and insights into resolving the blocks to behavior change. With a combination of science based mental, spiritual, physical and emotional practices she has seen profound and lasting changes in her clients. Her class "Reinvent-How To Rebuild Self-Esteem & End Self-Sabotage" is being taught to those who've suffered from low self-esteem, addiction, codependency, toxic relationships and many other issues. "We only allow into our lives what we believe we deserve on a subconscious level. You can change what you believe and create the life of your dreams. Change your mind, change your life." ~Arlina Allen Links: Sober Life School- http://www.soberlifeschool.com Reinvent - Self Esteem Course http://www.selfesteemcourse.com Podcast http://www.odaatchat.com Social Media: Facebook Page: facebook.com/odaatchat Instagram: @odaatpodcast @arlinaallen

In this episode, Dufflyn and I delve into the rich and complex topic of friendships and sobriety. Whether a friendship is for 'a reason, a season or a lifetime', (thanks for this, D), human beings are naturally wired to connect with others. Navigating the adjustments to our friendships and connections when we stop drinking can be challenging. Today, we discuss how to make friends, keep friends, and how to look after ourselves and our sobriety if things go wrong with friends. Boundaries, the importance of our connections, our attachments styles, how to let go, how to keep, new sober friends and old drinking friends and what happens if sober friends drink again and the surprising power of a frenemy... oof, it's a biggie! So grab a cuppa and let's chat. Kate x Resources: 'Friends: Understanding the Power of our Most Important Relationships' by Robin Dunbar Alcohol Change UK for #alcoholawarenessweek Free resource from Dufflyn about Attachment Styles. https://www.dufflyn.com/get_the_love_you_want_free_video https://www.dufflyn.com/ Kate's Substack for news and inspo. https://katebaily.substack.com/ https://www.lovesober.com/ Grab a cuppa and let's chat. KX

We kick off the summer season with sober legends Sober Dave & Johnny Lawrence talking about their friendship in the sober sphere, their mental health, getting sober as men and ongoing tools for sobriety. It was so lovely to hear about their friendship, vulnerability and how their connection led them to climb a mountain together and what they discovered about themselves as a result. They are both great advocates for men's mental health, work as coaches ad continue to raise awareness and build community in the sober space. The Self Development Coach, Johnny Lawrence is a coach, public speaker and podcast host and his mission is to help as many people as possible with their self-development. Johnny is a popular in-person and online speaker for businesses, charities, schools, sports teams, and universities. He regularly holds MasterClasses and is passionate about delivering live sessions and engaging with his self-development community, The Changing Rooms. This online community is open to anyone with a passion for self-development, and membership is available for only £10 per month. Connect with Johnny: https://www.instagram.com/theselfdevelopmentcoach?igsh=MWkzNnR5ZHZod3lsZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr https://www.facebook.com/theselfdevelopmentcoach https://www.tiktok.com/@theselfdevelopmentcoach?_t=8nKRPvbIAAi&_r=1 Transforming his life in January 2019, David Wilson, Trauma Informed Coach and Accredited Grey Area Drinking Coach and Public Speaker, he is dedicated to motivating others to transform their lives, overcome personal challenges and embrace life with a renewed mindset. Using his unique delivery and no nonsense approach, Dave is both personable and relatable. His Top 10 Apple Podcast 'One For The Road' reaches a global audience with over 300K downloads in the first year. Dave's rich and varied guest list includes RTT founder Marisa Peer, SAS Who Dares Wins Ollie Ollerton and author of 'The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober' Catherine Gray and recently popstar Matt Willis. Connect with Dave: https://www.soberdave.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/one-for-the-road/id1565341712 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CN86KLT8?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_1MXZRRDXXZ7BGT374RWR_1 Grab a cuppa and let's chat. Love Kate x

This episode Kate talks midlife transitions, sober tools and the upcoming group coaching in Love Sober - Love Your Sober Summer and why we need to strategise for success. Kate is the co-author of two books Love Yourself Sober - a self care guide to alcohol free living for busy mothers and Love Your Sober Year - A seasonal guide to alcohol free living. She is an holistic, ICF accredited coach, She Recovers Coach, a menopause coach and currently doing her yoga teacher training. Find out about LOVE YOUR SOBER SUMMER: Starting June 22nd 7pm GMT. EARLY BIRD AT CHECKOUT SUMMER20 for 20% off. Love Kate x

In this episode I talk to writer Clover Stroud about creativity, sobriety, life, love and loss and her new memoir 'The Giant on the Skyline - On home, belonging and learning to let go.' ( May 8th 2024) Clover Stroud is a writer and journalist writing for the Daily Mail, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, and Conde Nast Traveller, among others. She lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and five children. Pre-order 'The Giant on the Skyline-On home, belonging and learning to let go.' Signed copies! Available to pre-order now. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-giant-on-the-skyline/clover-stroud/2928377236977 Such a beautiful, affirming and honest conversation with Clover....so let's grab a cuppa and chat. KX Connect with Clover: Website: cloverstroud.com Substack: https://cloverstroud.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clover.stroud/?hl=e

In this episode I have a fantastic chat with top sober sis, sober sexpert Tawny Lara, author of Dry Humping - a guide to dating, relating and hooking up without the booze. And basically, we talk about all of that. Tawny Lara is an NYC-based journalist and public speaker with 8+ years of reporting on the sober (curious) space, focusing on the role liquid courage plays in interpersonal relationships. She is a podcaster, host of Recovery Rocks and has her own AF drinks brand Parentheses. You can find all of these here Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tawnymlara/ Substack https://substack.com/@tawnymlara Grab a cuppa or a cool drink - it's getting hot in here! Kate x

In this episode I talk to the gorgeous Sarah Rusbatch, author of the best selling book “Beyond Booze” about all things grey area drinking and being a woman in midlife. We unpick the marketing, cultural messages around alcohol, discuss why midlife is a great time to quit the booze and start making ourselves and our wellbeing a priority. Sarah is a multi award winning Health and Wellbeing Coach, an accredited Grey Area Drinking Coach, a menopause accredited coach, a motivational speaker and a passionate ambassador for helping as many women as possible to live their best life.She's also an ex-Grey Area Drinker who finally quit booze in April 2019 and has NEVER looked back! Grab a cuppa and let's chat! Love Kate x You can find Sarah's website and book below. https://sarahrusbatch.com/ https://sarahrusbatch.com/beyond-booze

The first episode of Love Sober Podcast 2.0 with guest Dufflyn Lammers, relationship and recovery coach. We know that, as Johann Hari says, connection is the opposite of addiction and so this season has a focus on relationships with self and others. We introduce ourselves and delve into a bit of our respective histories, and why we do what we do. Dufflyn got sober 30 years ago, before we had the language around grey area drinking. Dufflyn talks to us about how she helps women thrive in relationships once they stop drinking or identify as being in recovery. She will popping on regularly to take questions about relationships throughout the season and you I will be exploring sobriety questions so please feel free to write in to hello@lovesober.com if you have a relationship or sobriety quandary. You can find Dufflyn at : https://www.dufflyn.com/ https://www.instagram.com/dufflyn/ https://www.facebook.com/Dufflyn Grab a cuppa and let's chat. Kate x