Published by Julia Rangiheuea
Stories from everyday people sharing their darkest moments that led to sobriety. Shedding light on our struggles to help those still finding their way out.
Listen on Apple Podcasts46 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Aunee still remembers the nightie she was wearing as a little five-year-old girl when her uncle first introduced her to the “tickle game”. What was presented to her as a fun game she could play with someone she trusted was something much more sinister. This continued for years, and the ripple effects have been lifelong. Aunee’s story explores the devastating impact of generational trauma, complex mental health challenges and alcohol dependence, and how the pain of her own childhood trauma impacted not only her life, but also the lives of her three children. In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Aunee reflects on the painful reality of how unresolved trauma can shape the lives of those around us, sharing how she went from being a victim of abuse to recognising the ways her own trauma eventually led her to cause harm to others. Disclaimer: 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. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
46 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking She's the most recognisable name in the sober scene: the woman behind Sober Girl Society. But Millie Gooch won't call herself an alcoholic. For years she lived in the 'messy middle' nobody talks about, while alcohol quietly wrecked her health, her relationships and her sense of self. In this episode, Millie talks about hangxiety, blackouts and the uncomfortable truth about alcohol's role in family violence and sexual assault: the elephant in every room that no one wants to name. She also opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD and autism later in life, and how that reframed everything she thought she knew about herself. Millie isn't here to kill the party. She's on a mission to prove you can ditch the drink and keep every ounce of the fun, and she wants every woman listening to know it's possible. Disclaimer: 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. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
52 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Can you prove narcissistic behaviour in family court? What actually counts as financial abuse? And can one parent stop a child from seeing the other after a separation? Family law barrister Jason Hadden joins me in London to answer some of the most common questions about family court. We unpack what evidence courts look for, how coercive control and financial abuse are viewed in legal proceedings and what really happens when relationships break down and parenting disputes begin. Whether you're navigating the family court system yourself or simply want to better understand how these cases are decided, this episode is a look into what holds up in court and what doesn't. Follow Jason Hadden on Instagram: @familybarrister Disclaimer: 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. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
59 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Raised in South Africa by two morticians, Kerry grew up with a loving mother and an absent, alcoholic father who, in her words, should never have been a parent. In sobriety, memories of him behaving in sexually inappropriate ways towards her, and allegedly involving his friends, have begun to resurface. But the harm within her family didn't end there. Kerry also shares that she experienced sexual abuse by her brother. As she got older, a moment involving him and her younger sister forced her to confront a reality she could no longer ignore. By adolescence, Kerry was already drinking heavily, and that pattern of survival followed her into adulthood. After moving to Australia, isolation, loneliness and a later violent relationship deepened her dependence on alcohol. The cycle of unsafe and untrustworthy men continued to repeat itself throughout her life. Eventually, Kerry reached a breaking point and found Alcoholics Anonymous. She shares how AA helped her begin rebuilding her life, particularly through Step Four, where she was finally able to have honest conversations with her mother about what really happened in her childhood home. Disclaimer: 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. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
56 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking What happens when the life you were born into is the very thing trying to destroy you? Tove never chose gang life. She was born into it. Raised around gangs, addiction and violence, some of Tove’s earliest memories were pumping her stepmother’s stomach after overdoses. As she got older, gang members became her friends, then her partners and addiction became the only constant in a life defined by chaos. After a violent multi-gang shootout at her house and fearing for her safety, Tove fled New Zealand with nothing but a carry-on bag, leaving behind everything she’d ever known. Now living in Australia and 18 months sober, she’s rebuilding her life while facing the uncertainty of possible deportation and unresolved legal matters. In this exclusive interview, Tove speaks publicly for the very first time about growing up in gang life, generational trauma and whether escape is even possible when everything is stacked against you. Follow Tove on Instagram: @tove_uhh Disclaimer: 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. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
1 hr 0 min
Join our patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Jackie grew up in Singapore as a bilingual only child, raised in top schools and even finding early fame as a pop star. In a country where drug possession carried the death penalty, her life could not have looked more different to where it eventually led. After moving to Australia, a traumatic event one night changed everything. From that point on, Jackie began using substances to cope with what she had experienced. Following a marriage breakdown and being separated from her child in another country, she turned to what she knew would numb the pain. What followed was a cycle of dangerous relationships, each one more volatile than the last. After experiencing domestic violence and homelessness, Jackie found herself with an ex-bank robber facing serious charges. In an act of loyalty that would change her life, she took the blame for firearms-related offences and ended up in prison. It was there, stripped of everything, that Jackie realised no one was coming to save her. And for the first time, she got on her knees and started to pray. TikTok: jac.macy Disclaimer: 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. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
24 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Nitrous oxide a.k.a. nangs, is something I’ve never spoken about on this platform before, yet it’s sold right under our noses. Tiny canisters are available over the counter in almost every tobacconist across Australia, legally accessible to anyone 18 and over. Sam Bramman was 18 when he first tried a nang at a party. Within just three weeks, he was repeatedly seeking it out, driving from shop to shop and waiting outside tobacconists for them to open. It then escalated rapidly. While in a manic state, Sam drove from Sydney to the Gold Coast, where he ended up in Surfers Paradise screaming at cars and damaging hotel rooms. Sam is now sharing his story publicly to raise awareness and advocate for changes to how easily nitrous oxide can be accessed in Australia, particularly among young people. Visit No 2 Nangs here: https://no2nangs.au/ Instagram: @sambramman Disclaimer: 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. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
28 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Jay grew up in Geelong as a young gay dancer, supported at home but often made to feel different outside of it. His early experiences of bullying, trauma and assault shaped the way he saw himself, and how drinking and substances became a way to feel confident and finally accepted. After moving to Melbourne to study dance professionally, Jay found himself deep in the party scene, but what began as partying eventually escalated into harder substance use and reached a point where his family feared for his life. Jay speaks openly about hospitalisations, rehab, the moment he saw his dad cry for the first time and the long process of rebuilding his life. Now three and a half years sober, Jay works in the same detox facility he once went through himself. Jay’s Instagram: @jxytaylor Disclaimer: 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. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director- Beaudene Perussich Thumbnail- Jake Abernethy In 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.
1 hr 9 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Louise Edmonds was a small child when her experience of abuse by her grandfather began in her family home, a place that should have been safe, but wasn’t. Louise shares her story and how that experience continued over five years, shaping not only her childhood but the course of her life. Today, she's a passionate advocate working to help others recognise harmful behaviour patterns and understand how abuse can occur within trusted environments, often in ways that are difficult to see in the moment. Follow Louise on Instagram: @louise.edmonds.media Louise’s work: https://groomingrecognition.com/about-me/ Bravehearts: https://bravehearts.org.au Marc Caleb: https://www.essencework.com.au/about.html Sign the petition: https://c.org/7FWnbrZyyc Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
44 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains graphic and extreme depictions of violence. Listener discretion is advised. From the moment she was born, Donna was already in withdrawal. Her biological parents were both experiencing addiction and she was adopted soon after birth. Donna was then raised in a strict, hardworking family and given a stable home. But by high school, she found herself drawn into the orbit of people connected to a bikie gang and began working with them. What followed was a life marked by extreme violence, death and experiences no one should have to endure, including a relationship that ended in a police siege. Donna knew she had to change her environment to stop using. She moved states, cut ties and started again from nothing. A testament to her sobriety, Donna went on to become a main character in Housos , with more acting work now on the horizon. Follow Donna on TikTok: @tatts_n_pits Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
36 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Jasmine grew up knowing something didn’t feel right in her home. The good days with her father felt like everything. The bad days felt unbearable. At 15, she witnessed him attempt to take his own life in front of her and her siblings, and from that moment she began using alcohol to cope with what she couldn’t process. Years later, she was still carrying it all. Moving through her twenties and early thirties with low self-worth, drinking to regulate emotions she never learned how to sit with, until one moment, bottles of wine deep, sitting on the floor after a breakup, forced her to question everything. Jasmine opens up about receiving a diagnosis of ADHD and OCD in her thirties, masking for years without knowing why, the loneliness that can come with sobriety and what it has taken to slowly rebuild her sense of self. Instagram: @jasminelisciotto Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
43 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Peter Bates was just a child when his father poured petrol over him and his mother to stop her from leaving. Extreme violence, coercive control, and fear shaped Peter’s childhood, but home wasn’t the only place he was unsafe. At school, he experienced SA at the hands of a male teacher. Desperate to escape the violence, Peter found himself homeless at a young age. But after a tragic accident led to the loss of an innocent young life, Peter was sentenced to life in prison, believing his own life was effectively over too. Instead, prison became the place where Peter began to change. Peter is now a passionate advocate for domestic violence and coercive control. You can connect or work with Peter Bates below; https://petebatesproject.com/ Instagram: @petebatesproject TRIGGER WARNING: domestic violence, coercive control and suicide discussed in detail. Please listen with care. Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
47 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Growing up around addiction, instability and an absent father shaped the course of Luke’s life long before he understood it. In this episode, Luke speaks openly about avoiding accountability and the impact his behaviour had on the people around him during the darkest periods of his life. Beneath it all was a lifelong search for love, validation and escape. TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses suicide, mental health struggles, violence and domestic violence. Please watch with care. Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
39 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking If a mum of six can walk into her local pub and lose hundreds of thousands on a poker machine, where does the responsibility actually sit? Is it the machines, engineered to be addictive? The system that allows them to exist in every pub and club across the country? Or the individual sitting in front of them? In this episode I sit down with Kate Seselja, founder of The Hope Project, who shares her 15-year experience of gambling harm inside Australia's pokies crisis. She opens up about pulling money from her family business and mortgage just to keep playing, and what it actually cost her and her family. I also bring in a political voice. NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann joins to break down what is really happening, or not happening, in parliament when it comes to poker machine reform in Australia. Follow The Hope Project on Instagram Follow Cate Faehrmann on Instagram Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In 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.
53 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking You stopped drinking. You changed your habits. So why does it still feel like something is missing? Work, the gym, your phone, the constant chase for more… sometimes the patterns just shift rather than disappear. Trauma Therapist Drew Wild is back on the podcast to go deeper into what might be sitting underneath it all. We talk about the root of these patterns, why we can stay stuck in certain cycles, and what it takes to actually move forward. We also get honest about the identities we outgrow but feel scared to leave behind, our relationship with money and validation, and what you truly want when you strip everything back. Follow Drew Wild on Instagram: @drew_wild Book a session with Drew Wild HERE Creator & Host: Julia Rangiheuea Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline In 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.
39 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Trigger warning: This episode discusses child SA within a family, domestic violence and su*cide. Listener discretion is advised. Support resources are listed below. As a teenager, when Tanisha tried to speak her truth, she was not believed by those closest to her. That silence left her carrying a deep emotional weight alone. Over time, she entered a difficult and unsafe relationship, and in that period she began using cash advances to obtain substances, believing she would not have a long future. When the money ran out, she turned to alcohol, believing it was a more socially accepted way to cope. What started as occasional drinking gradually became more frequent. It wasn’t until she began therapy that she was able to reframe her past, reflect on her experiences, and slowly move toward sobriety. Follow Tanisha on Instagram: @t_soberclub Creator & Host: Julia Rangiheuea Ready to share your story? hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we aim to present these narratives accurately, the views expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, are not responsible for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. If this episode has brought up anything for you, support is available: 1800RESPECT (24/7): 1800 737 732 Lifeline (24/7): 13 11 14 Bravehearts: 1800 272 831 National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline (24/7): 1800 250 015 If you’re outside Australia, please reach out to your local support services. In 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 Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
45 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking From a young age, Mikaela felt the pressure to please those around her, men especially. At seventeen, she met the father of her firstborn in the chaos of partying and substance use. What began as young love slowly turned into a life she felt trapped in. With a mortgage, a baby on the way and no income of her own, leaving no longer felt like an option. When she finally did leave, Mikaela was on her own with a three-month-old and little to no resources. Starting again from scratch, she navigated the highs and many lows of online dating before being introduced to the world of sugar babying. In this episode, she shares what it means to balance single motherhood, sobriety and the emotional weight of living with personality disorders. Trigger warning: This episode explores sensitive topics including substance use, mental health and personality disorders. Follow Mikaela on Instagram: @manic.dream.pixie.xo Creator & Host: Julia Rangiheuea Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline In 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.
53 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Growing up as a second-generation Chinese Australian in Canberra, Alex spent much of his childhood wanting to be anything but himself. At just eight years old, he made a quiet but powerful connection: success, titles and money equals love. That belief followed him into adulthood and when COVID hit, the pressure, boredom and loss of identity converged into a gambling addiction that quietly took over his life. He was placing sports bets in the middle of the night, lying to his partner about missed bills and rent, borrowing money from friends and slowly losing the relationships that mattered most to him. Then came the moment everything unravelled. He had been stealing funds from his employer and one ordinary day, he was called into an office and told he was under internal investigation. As frightening as that moment was for Alex, it was also the first day of the rest of his life. Gambling Help Online gamblinghelponline.org.au Online counselling available 24/7, including live chat and email support Creator & Host: @JuliaRangiheuea Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline In 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.
45 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Trigger warning: this episode contains discussion of sexual assault. Raj's earliest memory is of his father leaving him on the side of the road to teach him a lesson. It was the first of many moments that taught him emotions weren't safe to show. By his teens, he was selling and using. What began at parties didn't stay there and one line led to another until he was moving large amounts of drugs and dealing weapons. Two stints in jail later, the reality of that life had nothing left to romanticise. Now in his twenties, Raj is starting over. In this episode, he talks about how he got in, what it cost him and why he's adamant about one thing: there's nothing gangster about it. Follow Raj on Instagram: @Emceerajj_ Creator & Host: Julia Rangiheuea Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline In 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.
32 min
Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Trigger warning: this episode contains detailed discussion of sexual assault. Stacey was 14 years old when two strangers assaulted her. One night. A warehouse. An experience no child should ever survive. She did. And then she did something even harder. She took them to court as a child, and won. She has never spoken publicly about it. Until now. Melissa Beaton is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist who works with high-performing women who hold everything together are ready to take back control over their lives. She specialises in spotting the moment a woman overrides herself. For example, when anger turns into anxiety, when responsibility becomes control, and when “being capable” becomes self-abandonment. Her work combines intensive psychodynamic therapy and physiology-based breathwork to help women build boundaries, regulate their nervous systems and stop shrinking to keep the peace. She is the founder of Zenso House, a premium breathwork and retreat studio on the Gold Coast. www.zensohouse.com Follow Melissa Beaton on Instagram: @melissabeaton.psychologist Follow Stacey on Instagram: @Staasi_ Creator & Host: Julia Rangiheuea Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au Disclaimer: 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 250 015 https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline In 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.