In this powerful first part of our two-part special Both Sides of the Bottle, I'm joined by my cohost for this episode, Ellie Boatman. We sit down with the incredibly open and courageous Sarah Stonehouse who shares her deeply personal journey through alcoholism, just as she celebrates her six-year sobriety anniversary.

This episode focuses on the side of the addict and dives into the raw reality of addiction—from the chaos and damage it caused in Sarah’s life, to the emotional toll it took on her and her loved ones. She speaks candidly about the guilt, the shame, and the wake-up calls, but also about the incredible support network that helped her find her way out. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to live inside the grip of addiction, or you’ve watched someone close to you struggle, this conversation offers a brutally honest window into both the pain and the hope that coexist in recovery. Sarah doesn’t hold back, and her story is a reminder that healing is messy, personal, and possible.

Part 2 of Both Sides of the Bottle will shift the focus to the people on the outside—the family, friends, and loved ones who lived through the experience alongside the individual suffering with the addiction. Together, these two episodes tell the full story of addiction and its ripple effect on everyone involved.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, community-based fellowship of individuals who share their experiences, strength, and hope to help each other recover from alcoholism. Founded in 1935, AA is non-professional, apolitical, self-supporting, and open to anyone who has a desire to stop drinking.

Meetings are held both in person and online, and offer a safe, confidential, and supportive environment for people at any stage of their sobriety journey.

AA is free to attend and available worldwide.

• 🌐 Website: https://www.aa.org
• 📍 Find local meetings: https://www.aa.org/find-aa
• 📞 Helpline (US/UK): Visit the website to find your region’s 24-hour hotline
• 💬 Online Meetings Available: Great for privacy or those in remote areas

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