Glen’s childhood was something no one should ever have to experience. His father was a predator, and his mother a heroin addict who later turned to alcohol. Throughout this two part interview you'll hear Glen be abused by many people- the first was being raped by a close family friend at just nine years old.  one year later, he was already trying to escape the abuse, running away from home, institutions, and boys' homes, where he faced further sexual assault and bullying.

Glen's dad then went on to abandon him on Oxford Street in Sydney, leaving him homeless at just 13. With nowhere to go, he became a street kid of Kings Cross. 

Trigger Warning: This episode contains themes of child abuse, child sexual abuse, substance abuse and violence. Please please listen with care 

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TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses substance abuse. Please listen with care.

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.

Dionne’s life was shaped by chaos from the start. She grew up with a father who drank heavily and cheated on her mother, and she was forced to move schools after relentless bullying. She was desperate to be loved by the time she met her ex-husband, He battled his own addictions, and together, their lives unraveled. Dionne lost her home in a fire, drowned in debt, and discovered her husband was having affairs even whilst she was pregnant.

Her drinking escalated, even her children were begging her to stop. “You’re an alcoholic, you’re disgusting,” they would scream, hiding her car keys to stop her from having accidents.

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses substance abuse. Please listen with care.

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.

Jane had the picture-perfect life—married, two kids, a white picket fence, and a home in a nice suburb. But behind closed doors, she was stuck in an unhappy marriage and secretly drowning in alcohol addiction, blacking out every night after finishing breastfeeding her youngest. Despite seeking help through therapy and AA, the cravings were relentless. It took a family intervention, a breaking point, and the right doctor to finally push her toward sobriety.

Just four weeks of not drinking and with newfound clarity, she found the courage to walk away from her old life.

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Let's Get a Pedi website

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses substance abuse and miscarriage. Please listen with care.

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 came across David on TikTok, where he’s known as Bipolarguylovinglife and he instantly caught my attention. Sitting in his car, talking to the camera about his ex-cocaine dealer, who he moved into his spare bedroom in hopes of getting a discount. I was hooked.

For the first 27 years of his life, David’s world looked very different. He didn’t drink, didn’t touch drugs, went to Bible college, and married the girl he had promised himself to at 21.

But at 27, his bipolar disorder could no longer be contained. Mania took over, and the fallout was huge; trying to marry a foreign nanny while still married to his first wife, buying a nightclub on impulse, falling for someone who had to wear an ankle monitor, and committing his biggest regret: white-collar crime, with damages estimated in the millions.

Follow David on TikTok

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses domestic violence, self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide. Please listen with care.

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.

Kara’s earliest memory is of her father’s addiction and the police at their home, trying to restore order. As she grew older, she found herself caught in a similar cycle; Xanax consuming her life, self-harm becoming routine, and her mother quietly preparing for her funeral. But everything changed the night she was sexually assaulted on a beach and woke up in a random hotel room, where a kind stranger was bathing her.

In that moment, Kara realised she didn’t want to die. She wanted to live—desperately.

Follow Kara on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses sexual assault, self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide. Please listen with care.

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.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence about giving up alcohol, or even just taking an extended break, then this is the episode for you. Dominique Ellisa is going alcohol-free for 2025, and trust me, her energy around it is contagious.

Going into this interview, I knew two things—Dom is a stunning model, and she’s committing to a year without alcohol. But what I didn’t expect was just how electrifying her perspective would be. Her excitement about sobriety is magnetic, and the way she talks about feeling truly aligned will have you rethinking everything.

Purchase Dom's Gratitude Journal HERE

Use code 'SOBERLYSPEAKING' at checkout for 20% off

Follow Dom on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses themes of substance abuse. Please listen with care.

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.

Casey, a proud Aboriginal woman, used alcohol to mask her ADHD and autism, hiding her creative and quirky side for years. In this episode, she opens up about how alcohol became the foundation of her long-term, codependent relationship, which began to fall apart after a traumatic assault.

She also shares a mind-blowing rule she set for herself around drinking last year, could you stick to it? Now fully sober, Casey is navigating the world of dating and friendships as a non-drinker. 

Follow Casey on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses themes of substance abuse and sexual assault. Please listen with care.

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.

Richard Galvan grew up in LA, born into a world of substance abuse, violence, selling drugs and gangs.

He became an alcoholic at just 12 years old, which quickly spiralled into a heroin addiction before he understood the gravity of his situation. Richard experienced a sliding doors moment on Skid Row whilst doing crack cocaine, he chose to detox in jail and got someone pregnant in rehab. 

Despite generational trauma and the chaotic influences around him, Richard now celebrates nearly two decades of sobriety. He’s also the author of 'The Addict' purchase to read below;

Read 'The Addict' here

Follow Richard Galvan on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses themes of domestic violence, violence, and substance abuse. Please listen with care.

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.

Maxi Shield has been a drag queen since the 90s, a true Sydney icon. You might’ve seen him perform on Oxford Street or caught him on RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under. But in today’s episode, I want to introduce you to the unknown Maxi, the one who grew up with 12 siblings, lost his mum at just 10 years old, and endured regular beatings from a step-parent.

We chat about performing drag multiple nights a week completely sober and the resurgence of homophobia in 2025.

Maxi reminds us how essential it is to step into the world as a sober person and build a strong, supportive community around you.

Follow Maxi Shield on Instagram

Ready to share your story? Email [email protected]

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses themes of domestic violence, violence, and substance abuse. Please listen with care.

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.

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.