In this episode, I dive into a big one – why so many of us use alcohol to avoid or numb emotions. It could be anxiety, stress, worry, or even the “good” feelings like joy and excitement. For a while, wine might feel like it takes the edge off, but the relief never lasts – and the consequences can be heavy.

I share honestly about my own experience when I first stopped drinking for longer stretches. I found it really hard to have a clear, focused mind and thought something was wrong with me. What I eventually discovered is that it was actually a sign I needed to learn new ways to manage my emotions – and that’s where real freedom begins.

I talk about how important it is to develop a toolkit of healthy coping strategies rather than falling back on alcohol or other addictive habits. This is the key to breaking that frustrating stop–start cycle so many of us know all too well.

I also touch on the role of hormones – particularly during perimenopause and menopause – and how they can affect our relationship with alcohol. It’s such an important piece of the puzzle, and I encourage you to seek support from professionals who really understand this connection.

At the end of the episode, I give you a little sneak peek of what’s coming up next week, when I’ll be talking about the new alcohol labelling laws in Ireland and what they could mean for how we all think about drinking.

And, if you’re ready for support, I’d love to invite you to join me inside the IQW Collective – especially with Sober October just around the corner. It’s a safe, supportive space where you’ll find tools, resources, and community to help you finally break free from the cycle.

Check out the IQW Collective here:

https://iquitwine.com/iqwa/

Email me at [email protected] if you'd like to explore private coaching.

Struggle with drinking while on holiday? In this episode of I Quit Wine, I share my experience of protecting sobriety, explain emotional sobriety, and introduce the year-long I Quit Wine Collective for support beyond “just not drinking.”

Staying alcohol-free while on holiday can be so challenging.

Even after years of sobriety, I’ve had moments where those “innocent little thoughts” about having a drink sneak in, and before you know it, they can become really tempting. I share openly about my own experiences and why I’ve learned to be fiercely protective of my sobriety – not just from other people offering me a drink, but from my own mind trying to convince me that “just one” would be fine.

I also share something really exciting – the doors are now open for my brand-new I Quit Wine Collective. This is a year-long support community designed to help you get off the stop-start cycle with drinking and feel fully supported in your sobriety.

Inside, you’ll find daily check-ins, group coaching, somatic practices like breathwork, and the kind of encouragement we all need to stay consistent.

Another theme I dive into is emotional sobriety. For me, quitting wine was never just about not drinking – it’s about creating a truly incredible life after wine. I talk about how I blend both cognitive (top-down) and somatic (bottom-up) tools to work through the deeper reasons why we drank in the first place, and how this helps us flourish in every area of life.

I wrap up with an invitation for you to join me in the I Quit Wine Collective – because this isn’t just about giving up alcohol, it’s about co-creating a new, brighter chapter of your life.

🎧 The Question to Ask Yourself That Changes Everything with Drinking

In this episode, I dive into a powerful question that changed everything for me in my sobriety journey—and how it might shift things for you too.

Here’s what we cover:

🌀 Understanding Grey Area Drinking (starts at 0:13)
I explain what “grey area drinking” actually is—the space between not drinking at all and full-blown alcohol dependency. If you’ve ever found yourself trying to take breaks, then starting again, you’re not alone.

💡 The Key Question That Helped Me Break the Cycle (starts at 2:42)
I share the simple but game-changing question I asked myself:
“Is this taking me further towards or away from feeling good, feeling well?”
This mindset shift was the beginning of real, lasting change.

🍷 The Truth About Alcohol’s So-Called Health Benefits (starts at 4:30)
We take a look at the outdated ideas around alcohol being “good for you,” and I unpack what the latest research says instead.

🧠 Challenging the Lies That Keep Us Drinking (starts at 7:59)
From “I need a drink to relax” to “I won’t enjoy the party without it,” I talk through the sneaky thoughts that keep us stuck—and how to let them drift on by without giving them power.

🌿 Reconnecting With Your Innate Well-Being (starts at 10:00)
You were born with a natural sense of well-being, and it's still there—even if alcohol has clouded it. I share how you can start to reconnect with that deeper joy and clarity.

If this episode resonated and you're ready to explore a life with more energy, peace and joy—without alcohol—I’d love to support you.

👉 Book a free connect call with me here
or
📲 Send me a DM on Instagram: @iquitwine_withsarah

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own—support is here when you're ready. 💛

Episode 038: Doing Big Things Without Alcohol

In this episode of I Quit Wine, I’m sharing all about a huge personal milestone—my son’s wedding—and how I navigated the entire multi-day celebration completely alcohol-free.

Yes, three days of events (pre-wedding, the big day, and post-wedding celebrations), surrounded by champagne toasts and clinking wine glasses—and I didn’t drink a drop. And the best part? I had a brilliant time. I danced, I laughed, I connected, and I woke up feeling fresh every morning (unlike some others, bless them!).

Here’s what I cover in this episode:

💃 My personal experience

• How I stayed sober at such a big event, and the tiny wobble I had—and how I moved through it.

• What helped me the most, including great alcohol-free drinks (yes, there was AF wine, beer, and cocktails!).

• One little hiccup—my non-alcoholic wine got switched for the real thing by mistake. I’ll tell you what happened and how I handled it.

🌟 The benefits of staying alcohol-free at events

• Waking up clear-headed and energised

• Feeling confident and present (no second-guessing anything I said or did!)

• Fully enjoying the dancing and celebration without any fuzzy moments

🥂 Why inclusivity for non-drinkers matters

• A big shout-out to events that make non-drinkers feel just as welcome

• Why just offering water isn’t enough

• The power of choice when it comes to drinks—and how it actually encourages more people to skip the booze

🛠 My top tips for navigating events alcohol-free

• What to plan ahead (spoiler: know your drinks, your answers, and your exits!)

• Why focusing on the joy and connection makes such a difference

• How to feel empowered, even when you’re the only one not drinking

🎉 Exciting news!
The IQW Freedom Formula is available for just $88 and will support you on your journey to freedom from overthinking your drinking.

You can check it out here:

IQuitWine.com/FF

Want to find out more about my wellbeing supplements that are also helping others to decrease cravings? I love the magnesium, multi-vitamin and CBD oil from this company:

https://www.LiveGood.com/SarahLeather

Thanks for listening. If you’re facing your own big event and wondering how to handle it without wine, know that you can do it—and it can be even better than you imagined.

In this episode, I’m joined by the lovely Sally German, a coach who shares her inspiring journey of quitting alcohol and how journaling became a powerful part of her recovery and personal growth.

Sally’s story is incredibly relatable—like so many women, her drinking was woven into her social life, career, and stress management. But after years of questioning her relationship with alcohol, trying to moderate, and experiencing the emotional toll it took, she made the brave decision to quit for good.

We also dive deep into one of my favourite tools for sobriety and self-discovery: journaling. If you’ve ever felt a bit weird writing things down or didn’t know where to start, this conversation will give you the nudge you need.

✨ What We Talked About:

Sally’s Journey

• First drink at 10 or 11—can you believe it?

• Drinking quickly became the norm in her late teens and twenties

• She tried all the moderation tricks (dry months, training for a marathon) before finally saying goodbye to alcohol

• It took around 10 years from her first “maybe I should stop” moment to full sobriety

The Challenges of Quitting

• Societal conditioning and the fear of missing out are real

• Friends often didn’t understand her choice, which made things even tougher

• Sally shares how hard it was to imagine social life or travel without alcohol—but also how freeing it’s been since quitting

Journaling for Sobriety & Growth

• Journaling started as something awkward for Sally… and me too, to be honest!

• Now it’s a daily essential for both of us

• It’s not just about writing—it’s a space for emotional release, pattern spotting, and serious self-awareness

Tips for Starting a Journaling Practice

• Keep it simple: start with “Right now I feel…” or “Today I’m feeling…”

• 5 minutes is plenty to begin with

• Try it in the morning with your coffee or at night to wind down

• Push through the initial discomfort—it gets easier, and the insights are so worth it

💬 Ready to Give Journaling a Go? Start small, stay curious, and be kind to yourself. It doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be honest.

You can connect with Sally German Coaching over on Instagram for more journaling inspo and support.

And who knows? I might have Sally back soon to dive even deeper into this gorgeous practice!

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, or come hang out with me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/iquitwine_withsarah_

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

In this episode of I Quit Wine, I’m answering some of the biggest questions about quitting alcohol—how hard it really is, what to expect in early sobriety, and whether you can ever “reset” your drinking habits.

I’ll also share insights from my own journey, what finally worked for me after years of trying, and why addressing the root causes of alcohol dependence is so important.

✅ Early sobriety is challenging, but it gets easier with the right support and daily practices.
✅ Alcohol cravings aren’t just triggered by stress—happy moments can also lead to urges.
✅ There’s no such thing as “resetting” drinking habits—quitting completely is often necessary.
✅ Long-term sobriety isn’t just about avoiding alcohol; it’s about healing the deeper reasons we drink.

🔹 The Challenge of Early Sobriety

• The first 30 days can be tough, but they’re also crucial.
• Around 80-100 days, something shifts, and sobriety starts to feel easier.
• Daily practices are key—willpower alone won’t keep you sober.
• How my Freedom Formula helps create a sustainable alcohol-free life.

🔹 Why Triggers for Alcohol Go Beyond Stress

• Cravings don’t just come from bad days—good days can trigger them too.
• Our beliefs about worthiness and happiness can play a huge role in drinking.
• Alcohol is often used to cope with both struggles and celebrations.
• The nervous system’s role in processing emotions (and why it matters in sobriety).

🔹 The Myth of “Resetting” Drinking Habits

• There’s no such thing as a fresh start with drinking.
• The “downward-facing escalator” analogy—why every relapse brings you back to the same spot.
• The importance of addressing the root causes behind drinking.
• My personal experience of multiple attempts before finally stopping for good.

🔹 Why Professional Support Makes a Difference

• Trying to quit alone can be harder than it needs to be.

• My ICW Freedom Formula helps women quit drinking in a way that actually lasts.
• I use trauma-informed coaching, somatic work, and emotional sobriety coaching techniques alongside Root Cause Therapy.

• Trying to quit alone can be harder than it needs to be.

💌 Need support? I’m here to help!

📧 Email me: [email protected]

📲 DM me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iquitwine_withsarah_/

💬 Thinking about quitting? Let’s chat—book a call with me to talk about your next steps:

https://calendly.com/iqwwithsarah/connect-with-sarah

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: If you’re a heavy daily drinker, please consult a healthcare professional before quitting abruptly.

I Quit Wine Podcast - Episode 035
Finding Joy Beyond the Glass: Relearning Happiness Without Wine

Episode Summary:
In this episode, I discuss the challenges of quitting alcohol and discovering true joy in life without wine, particularly for women in midlife and menopause. Many women struggle to imagine a fulfilling life without alcohol, viewing it as their "best friend" and main source of joy. However, breaking free from this dependence opens the door to a richer, more meaningful life—though it takes time, reflection, and support.

Key Topics Covered:
✔️ The emotional and psychological ties to alcohol and why it feels like a “best friend”
✔️ Overcoming the fear of life without alcohol and learning to find joy in new ways
✔️ How self-worth, productivity, and busyness can contribute to alcohol dependence
✔️ Personal story: A 3-month camper van trip that highlighted lifestyle differences and the importance of stillness
✔️ The role of hormones in midlife (decreasing estrogen & oxytocin) and their impact on self-reflection and purpose
✔️ The rise in alcohol consumption among Gen X and Boomer women compared to younger generations
✔️ The unique challenges midlife women face—caring for aging parents, raising teenagers, and experiencing perimenopause
✔️ The importance of self-compassion, curiosity, and patience in exploring life without alcohol
✔️ Practical steps for rediscovering joy through non-drinking activities like coloring, walking, and beach visits
✔️ The role of support, self-reflection, and addressing subconscious patterns in quitting alcohol
✔️ My experience with Root Cause Therapy and how it helped uncover underlying worthiness issues

Resources & Support:
🎥 Free guide & video training: Assess your relationship with alcohol
📩 Email me at [email protected] to request the guide
📲 Message me on Instagram @iquitwine_withsarah for more support
💬 One-on-one coaching is available to explore the root cause of your drinking, your unique challenges and create a plan for an alcohol-free life. Email 'coaching' to [email protected]

Call to Action:
✨ Reflect on your personal relationship with alcohol and where you find joy outside of drinking
✨ Consider reaching out for support, whether through the free guide, a conversation, or one-on-one coaching
✨ Explore new activities and hobbies that bring you fulfillment without alcohol
✨ Be kind and patient with yourself—change takes time, but a better life is waiting on the other side

Thank you for listening! If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a friend who might need it.

Don’t forget to follow the podcast for more insights and encouragement on your alcohol-free journey. 💜

In this episode, I explore my relationship to alcohol and how this is playing out in other areas of my life.

How you do alcohol is how you do everything is actually excellent news as it will teach you how to have a much better life.

I share how a recent detox from sugar has reminded me about dopamine sensitivity and how many of us will react.

Join me in the IQW Freedom Formula to learn to exact steps to having a much better life without wine:

https://iquitwine.com/iqwff/

Sarah discusses how people often underreport their alcohol consumption, with the common belief that individuals drink at least double what they admit to. She reflects on her experiences as a student nurse seeing patients with severe alcohol-related health issues.

Sarah shares how her views have evolved, noting that the focus should be on how alcohol makes someone feel rather than just the quantity consumed. She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's personal relationship with alcohol, especially for "gray area drinkers" who may experience negative impacts from relatively moderate consumption.|

Sarah encourages the listener to reflect on how their drinking makes them feel, rather than just the amount. She shares examples of women in her programs who struggled with the impacts of even a small amount of alcohol. She invites the listener to explore her "I Quit Wine Freedom Formula" program to address their relationship with alcohol.

https://iquitwine.com/iqwff/

Sarah invites the listener to follow her on Instagram, send her a message, and share any insights from listening to her podcast episodes. She emphasizes her approachability and desire to engage with her audience.

https://www.instagram.com/iquitwine_withsarah_/

Episode Title: But I Love the Taste of Wine

Host: Sarah Leather

Episode Summary:

Sarah also touches on the role alcohol has played historically in nursing homes and hospitals and how alcohol was used for various purposes in medical settings. She reflects on her own experiences, her changing relationship with alcohol, and how she now feels indifferent or even repulsed by it.

Sarah encourages listeners to observe their thoughts about alcohol and the stories they've told themselves, like "I drink for the taste," and gently challenges these beliefs. She shares how emotional sobriety is about shifting perspectives and seeing the truth about what alcohol has taken from your life.

Finally, Sarah highlights the importance of building new, healthier habits and mindsets, while encouraging listeners to explore her IQW Freedom Formula for deeper support.

Key Takeaways:

Mentioned in This Episode:

I have a new offering: 75-minute one-on-one coaching sessions for personalized guidance. It includes the IQW Freedom Formula (if you've already purchased it, you will get a 30-minute follow-up session). You can ⁠see it here⁠:

https://bit.ly/IQW75minuteFFbonus

Connect with Sarah:

Call to Action:

Podcast Links: