Alice openly shares her experience of applying for bankruptcy at just 20 years old, drowning in debt, and stealing from multiple jobs to fund her party lifestyle. 

After an abusive relationship and an unplanned pregnancy from a one-night stand, she then went on to meet her now partner, who gave her a final ultimatum. It was then that she finally began to reevaluate her drinking. 

Alice considers herself sober curious, admitting she’s never been able to reach the one-year sober mark. Her story is one so many can relate to—knowing the damage alcohol causes but still struggling to let it go completely. 

Follow Alice on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of substance abuse and domestic violence. Please listen with care and prioritise your well-being. Help is listed below;

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

In this final chapter, Mima opens up about the extreme lengths she went to in order to protect her other children from harm, following professional recommendations. She shares the challenges of trying to be a mum after relinquishing care to the state and reveals a disturbing text message that has left her fearing her daughter could seriously harm another living creature.

Follow Mima on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of suicide, violence, self harm, and animal cruelty. Please listen with care and prioritise your well-being. Help is listed below;

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

When you're expecting a child, you hope for a healthy baby, maybe even secretly wish for a specific gender. But no one ever prepares for the possibility that you might give birth to a sociopath. A sociopath you fear will harm themselves and others.

Mima has spent her life trying to break the cycle of generational trauma. But her second-born daughter has struggled with severe mental illness since childhood. The warning signs were there early, but nothing could have prepared Mima for what was to come.

In Part 1, we look into Mima’s world; born to addicts, raised around violence, and a teen mum. Despite her efforts, a series of heartbreaking events has led her to an impossible choice: handing her daughter over to the state. Mima is exhausted, she's desperate and she's been let down by the system time and time again.

Follow Mima on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of substance abuse, violence, sexual assault, suicide, and racial slurs. Please listen with care and prioritise your well-being. Help is listed below;

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Working in construction can come with a heavy drinking culture, but for Liam, the pressure to drink was just one layer of his young life so far. In this episode, he opens up about his complicated relationship with his mother, experiencing homelessness, struggling with body image issues, and how he's finally found a sense of belonging at the gym. Above all, this conversation is about Liam’s unwavering commitment to breaking generational trauma and forging a new path.

Follow Liam on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of substance abuse and domestic violence. Please listen with care and prioritise your well-being. Help is listed below;

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

I can't express how important this episode with Conrad Tracey is, an addiction coach, consultant, and mentor. But most importantly, Conrad is a former drug addict who speaks from experience.

I ask Conrad some of the big questions around addiction and sobriety: Who am I without drinking? How can you approach a loved one struggling with drug or alcohol abuse? What practical tools can help you push through cravings when they hit hardest? And so much more.

At the end of this episode, Conrad has a special gift exclusively for Soberly Speaking listeners. This is extremely limited, so click below to claim your bundle!

Buy Conrad's Top 5 Training Bundle for only $1:00 :
https://pages.addictioncoachingaustralia.com.au/topfivebundle

Offer Code: SPEAKING (Apply upon purchase)

Follow Conrad Tracey on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of substance abuse. Please listen with care and prioritise your well-being. Help is listed below;

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Imagine this: you're 21 years old at kick-ons, surrounded by friends, music, and drinks. You're offered a line of white powder, which you snort, only to accidentally slip into drug-induced psychosis. You hear voices, can't leave your house, can't go to work and are overwhelmed by an unbearable urge to tear your skin off. This was Jade's real-life nightmare. What started as binge drinking and clubbing soon escalated to aggressive behaviour and a night of being so badly injured it was enough to scare her into sobriety.

Follow Jade on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of substance abuse. Please listen with care and prioritise your well-being. Help is listed below;

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Zeak grew up on a tiny island in the South Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of Australia: Norfolk Island. Life in small, rural communities often has its own unique rhythm, and Zeak's story is no exception. Raised by parents who openly used drugs, he learned early on how to navigate a world that was anything but conventional. Adding to this complexity was the secret he carried, his sexuality.

When Zeak kissed a boy for the first time and experienced the rush of MDMA on the same night, it sparked an unforgettable high. That euphoric moment became the benchmark he chased relentlessly in the years that followed, diving headfirst into the world of drugs and partying.

Follow Zeak on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of substance abuse. Please listen with care and prioritise your well-being. Help is listed below;

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

What if your drug dealer was your doctor? After giving birth to her daughter, Natasha was prescribed Oxy to manage the debilitating symptoms of endometriosis, something that had been dormant her entire life until childbirth. In this episode, Natasha opens up about her struggles; begging her street dealer to stop answering her calls, pleading with doctors to take her seriously and ultimately turning to her family for help to get into detox. That decision saved her life.

Follow Natasha on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of suicide and substance abuse. Please listen with care and prioritise your well-being. Help is listed below;

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

By the age of 10, Nicole was already weighing drugs for bikies at clubhouses. She experienced child abuse from a young age and had no family or friends surrounding her. This led Nicole to put her trust in the wrong hands, becoming the victim of a horrific crime in high school. Years later, she married her ex-husband, entering an abusive relationship so violently destructive that she knew staying would eventually cost her life. Fleeing with nothing but the clothes on her back, Nicole found herself once again immersed in the world of drugs and sex work. It wasn’t until a motel room overdose that everything change...

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of substance abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and animal abuse. Please listen with care and prioritise your well-being. Help is listed below;

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Call 1800 737 732 for the 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Individuals can also access local support services and search the internet using Daisy, a free app developed by 1800RESPECT that protects user privacy.

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Sophie was over 3 years sober when she thought she could moderate her drinking. What started as a few drinks spiralled, with her wedding becoming the catalyst for falling back into old habits. Going into this episode, I assumed we’d focus on that turning point, but as I spoke to Sophie, I realised her story ran so much deeper.

An eating disorder that began in her teenage years. Postnatal depression that led to multiple suicide attempts. A lingering sense of shame and resentment towards herself.

Trigger warning: This episode discusses postnatal depression, suicide, eating disorders, and substance abuse.

The book Sophie recommends is 'alcohol explained' by William Porter
For addiction she also recommends 'In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction' by Gabor Maté 

The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015

https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

Creator & host- Julia Rangiheuea

Video producer- Beaudene Perussich

Image & logo- Jasmine Rule

In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.