In this episode we chat to the wonderful (and anonymous) Person Irresponsible!

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Person Irresponsible, or PI, is someone who used Alcoholics Anonymous to change her relationship with alcohol and it's the most in depth conversation we've had about what AA is and how it works. She calls herself PI to protect her anonymity, as it's one of the requests that AA make about members talking to the media - we talk to her about the Twelve Steps, what meetings are like, what the other people involved are like... And she breaks down a lot of the myths that surround AA in this really insightful chat.

As always, we love to have a laugh with our guests, and PI absolutely didn't disappoint on this front! She talks to us about the time she jet ski'd around the UK, and about her latest challenge which she's written about in her new book "Everything You Ever Taught Me" which charts her journey walking from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, and how AA's Twelve Steps helped her on this epic journey!

Talking about walking across America opens a really interesting conversation about the link between addiction and doing extreme things - and PI talks about chaos being a comfort zone, which is a really interesting angle.

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Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at [email protected] or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

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If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

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Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

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All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

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We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti