What if summer didn’t have to be “powered by” alcohol? In this episode, Anna Donaghey invites sobriety and life coach, Casey McGuire Davidson, to unpack why the summer and its long evenings, and sunny terrace, feels so tangled with the urge to drink. Is it really about the Aperol Spritz… or are we longing for something deeper, like freedom, nostalgia, or a younger version of ourselves?

Together, they challenge the myth that summer is for “letting go” and drinking, and instead explore the possibility that these months could offer more: clarity, energy, presence, and real joy.

If you’re worried you’ll be missing out or feel resistance to change, this episode delivers validation, surprising science, and practical ways to romanticise sobriety rather than alcohol.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Intro: Why is summer so “loaded” with drinking?

01:04 Meet Casey McGuire Davidson: podcast host & ex-corporate high-achiever

04:47 How we don’t realise how much we’re missing by focusing on alcohol

07:10 Romanticising alcohol vs. romanticising sobriety

08:29 Sober travel: what’s really possible when you’re present

10:40 The discomfort and magic of your first sober summer

12:17 The “sober summer bucket list” approach

13:11 Why summer is the best time to rethink your drinking habits

16:42 Are we craving the drink, or a lost version of ourselves?

23:42 How the drinks industry scripts our summer fantasies

27:09 Alcohol’s real deception: convincing us we’re not enough without it

28:00 “Why isn’t this moment enough?” Getting honest about cravings

30:15 The science behind why alcohol seems to make us happier

37:09 The “joy of missing out”: freedom, energy, and real presence

41:00 What’s the biggest surprise on the other side?

Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!

Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/

The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/

If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About Casey McGuire Davidson:

Casey McGuire Davidson is a Life & Sobriety Coach, speaker, and host of the Top 100 Mental Health show The Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women. Featured on Good Morning America, NPR, HuffPost, The New York Times, NBC News and more, she helps high‑achieving women change their relationship with alcohol so they can drink less and live more.

Connect with Casey:

Website: Hello Someday Coaching

Podcast: The Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women

Instagram: @caseymdavidson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelloSomeday/

Mentioned in this episode:

Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar