This week we tackle the subject of mental health. We share our personal experiences around mental health and how it’s intrinsically linked with our sobriety. We discuss expectations around mental health when we stop drinking and the stigma around asking for help. Oh and there’s a little bit of Yeezy thrown in there for good measure.

Please remember to rate and review and subscribe my darlings!

*TRIGGER WARNING*

This week we discuss a recent event in Leisa’s life - a bad break up - and how she has got through whilst staying sober. Life certainly has thrown some tests our way since quitting the booze but we want to talk about how keeping that clarity throughout the ups and downs has built resilience and given us the strength to confront and work through a crisis.

We discuss some sensitive topics in this episode, especially around emotional abuse but please be warned that this may be triggering. But we hope this conversation helps to show how we can work through the hard parts of life without having to numb out.

A few links to things that we discuss in this episode:

If you are struggling with your mental health or feel unsafe in any way contact Lifeline 13 11 14

https://www.lifeline.org.au/

If you think you may be in an abusive relationship call 1800 RESPECT - https://www.1800respect.org.au/

A great meditation - https://insighttimer.com/manojdias/guided-meditations/metta-loving-kindness-meditation-3

‘BE the bad bitch’ playlist courtesy of Leisa! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/01w4e4e9O3iN1suuJwdNw9?si=oGthkZaVTvebrtJBa6kJNg

After a short mid season hiatus we’re back with a new episode! Ever been to your GP and had to do one of those surveys about how much alcohol you drink? Did you ever lie? And more importantly did that doctor tell you that the amount you drink was ‘no big deal’? Well I certainly have many times over so i was chomping at the bit to talk to a doctor about what they really think about alcohol.

This week we talk to Dr. Megan Young - a GP and medical doctor who’s currently working in the area of HIV treatment. Megan stopped drinking a few years ago after realising how integral sobriety was to her overall health and wellbeing. We discuss how alcohol often gets a ‘free pass’ in the medical profession, the effects of alcohol on mental and physical health and the benefits of giving it up.

Thanks for sharing your story Megan!

You can find Megan @healthy_megan

and https://www.dryoung.com.au/

This week we’re so excited to share with you this interview with Jill Stark. Jill is a best-selling author, award-winning journalist, and passionate mental health advocate. Her first book, High Sobriety: My Year Without Booze, charted her year off the sauce and highlighted Australia’s obsession with alcohol. The book catapulted her into a life of media attention and parties - she was living the dream. And then it all fell apart. This led Jill to question the narrative on what it means to be successful and she wrote the book ‘Happy Never After’ in which Jill turns the happiness fairytale on it’s head and swaps the ‘quick fix’ approach to mental ill health for the long road back to herself.

Part of that journey for Jill was to question her relationship once again with alcohol and last year she decided to cut it out of her life for the foreseeable future. The link between her anxiety and her drinking was just too much to ignore. We talk to Jill about her journey to where she is now, how booze is implicated in mental health and the state of booze culture in our society. We hope you enjoy!

If you are struggling you can contact the following organisations:

Beyond Blue - https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

They have a dedicated Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service - https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/

You can find Jill on the socials: Instagram: @jillstark__

and on her website: https://jillstark.com.au/

Here is a link to an incredible piece she wrote for Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/personal-best/pillar/in-focus/am-i-normal-hangover-anxiety

This week our guest is the NRL player Joel Thompson. Joel grew up in a remote community in NSW around domestic violence, unstable housing, and drug and alcohol abuse. This led to self-destructive behaviour in adulthood which threatened to destroy his professional rugby career and personal relationship.

After struggling for years with his mental health and seeking professional help in 2011, it wasn’t until 2019 that Joel started to question his relationship with alcohol. Last November an accident at a party left Joel in hospital in intensive care - and it was there that he vowed to stop drinking for a year.

In this chat we talk about Joel's difficult upbringing and how it’s given him resilience, strength and a passion to help inspire a new generation of Indigenous men to reach their potential. He talks about the effect that removing alcohol has had on his life, how he’s approached sobriety surrounded by a macho drinking culture and what he hopes for the future.

Joel’s story is powerful, honest and inspirational. We really hope you enjoy listening to Joel and take away some of his resilient spirit. You can find Joel on the socials and through his work with The Mindset Project.

Instagram:

@_joel.thompson_

@the_mindset_project

https://themindsetproject.com.au/

This week we talk to the one and only Samantha X. Samantha worked as a tabloid journalist for years before swapping a high rise office for high class escorting and became Australia's most well know escort.

She's written two best selling books, shares advice on intimacy and sex in the media and also works as a coach. Fifteen months ago Samantha decided to get sober. In this episode she opens up about her journey from party girl to living with presence and clarity. We discuss the highs and lows of sobriety, how sex has changed since ditching the booze and why she thinks it's the best thing she's ever done for herself.

Chatting to Samantha was like hanging out with a girlfriend - she's so down to earth, honest and authentic. We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did!

You can find Samantha on the socials and her website:

https://samanthax.com.au/

Instagram - @samanthaxreal

As always please remember to rate, review and share if you like what you hear :)

This week Leisa and Leanne chat with Manoj Dias - Father, Writer, Meditation Teacher and Founder of A—SPACE Meditation Studio. He is also a lululemon ambassador, a role he uses to champion more accessible and inclusive wellness experiences for the under privileged and marginalised.

We loved having this chat with Manoj - he was so open, friendly and inspirational. We talked how he went from the corporate world to being a renowned meditation teacher, representation within the wellness industry, why he's recently reassessed his relationship with alcohol and how we can all practise applying compassion to be kinder to ourselves and one another.

Manoj can be found on all the socials - as well as his studio A-SPACE (make sure you check that out!)

www.manojdias.com.au

a-space.com.au

Instagram: @manojdias

Facebook: /hellomanojdias

Leisa and Leanne talk to William Porter, the author of Alcohol Explained - an in depth at alcohol as a substance and what it does to our body.

Ever wondered why alcohol helps you 'wind down', why you wake up with that 4am dread after a night on the town? Well we did and William's book made us feel a little more sane about it all.

We talk anxiety, addiction and disease theory in this eye opening episode. Enjoy!

William Porter can be found online, on socials and his book 'Alcohol Explained' and 'Alcohol Explained 2' are out now:

https://www.alcoholexplained.com/

Instagram - @alcoholexplained

Facebook - @alcoholexplained

Leisa and Leanne talk to Jason and Andy Quin from Etch Sparkling - a range of AF drinks made with Australian native fruits, herbs & honey.

Jason bravely opens up about his struggle with alcohol and how he made the journey from booze to health. After working in the alcohol industry for 23 years Jason and his wife Andy started ETCH as a brand that would align more with their values and spread the beautiful mantra 'Every Time Choose Health'.

We discuss what going alcohol-free has meant to the both of them and what they hope for the future of the AF industry in Australia. So excited to share this with you - these guys really are inspirational!

You can find Etch Sparkling (and order their delicious beverages) here:

https://www.etchsparkling.com.au/

Intstagram & Facebook - @etchsparkling

Leisa and Leanne sit down in front of their respective screens and discuss life under lockdown.

We talk about the issues that many of those may be facing right now - increased anxiety and uncertainty - and how that could lead to increased drinking and problem behaviour. We share some tips and tricks on how you can work through this difficult time and be kind to yourself.

As we believe there is no right way to recover below are a few links to support resources that can help:

Lifeline: www.lifeline.org.au or call 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: www.beyondblue.org.au

Tempest: www.jointempest.com

AA: aa.org.au

Smart Recovery: smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au

Or join our FB private group (@theriserevolution) for close to home support. We're all in this together.

As always remember to rate and review folks :)