In this episode Toni is joined by Scott Pearson, founder of the Proud and Sober platform, connecting sober and sober curious people in the LGBTQ+ community online and offline.

Scott, 33 and sober for 5 years, has become an influential millennial voice on the sober scene, and through his talks, writing and events is a huge advocate for changing the relationship this community has with alcohol.

In this episode we discuss:

• How as a binge drinker in his mid-20s Scott was drinking up to two bottles of wine per night

  
  



• How he used booze as a way to mask anxiety and low self-worth, how ultimately alcohol became interwoven with his whole identity and how he now manages his mental and emotional health without alcohol

  
  



• How his social life has completely changed since going sober 5 years ago and how he started Proud and Sober as a place for the LBGTQ+ community to come together that didn’t revolve around the usual bars, clubs (and booze)

  
  



• The importance of designing our lives and being intentional about what - and who - we spend our time and energy on

  
  



• Why moderating his drinking has never worked

  
  



• Why he’s grateful for his rock bottoms

  
  



• How Dry Jan is a great time to take a pause and reflect on your relationship with alcohol and how you want to use it

  
  



• The importance of surrounding yourself with people who know how it feels to do what you are doing

  
  



• Why you should tell everyone you know if you’re trying a sober stint

  
  

PODCAST NOTES + LINKS:

• @proudandsober on Instagram


• Proud and Sober meetups

• Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari


• The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray


• How to be the Love You Seek by Dr Nicole LePera

• ⁠⁠@shelfhelp.club on Instagram⁠⁠


• ⁠⁠www.shelfhelp.club⁠⁠


• ⁠⁠Join the (free) Shelf Help Club community over on the Shelf Help Club App⁠⁠

• INCASE OF EMERGENCY - PLEASE CALL 999


• SAMARITANS – 116 123


• SHOUT CRISIS SUPPORT - TEXT SHOUT TO 85258

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