The Alcohol ReThink Podcast with Patrick Fox

What happens when drinking gradually takes over your life, even when you know it's causing you harm?

In episode 263 of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast, Patrick welcomes Holly Hiles, founder of Collapse to Calling, for an honest conversation about addiction, recovery, personal responsibility and finding a new way to live.

Holly grew up in an environment where drinking was simply part of everyday life. It was something people did to relax, celebrate and cope with difficult emotions.

When she began drinking herself, alcohol quickly became her preferred way of finding relief. Over time, what started as a familiar habit developed into something she struggled to control.

Despite building a successful career, Holly's drinking continued to escalate, affecting her relationships, her sense of self and eventually leading her to seek treatment.

But recovery wasn't straightforward. After completing 90 days in treatment, Holly returned to drinking almost immediately.

In this open and thoughtful conversation, Holly shares what eventually helped her change, why taking responsibility was such an important turning point and how her life has evolved since putting alcohol down.

Some of the things they explore include:

• How childhood experiences can shape our beliefs about alcohol

• The gradual progression from social drinking to dependency

• Hiding drinking and the impact on relationships

• Why treatment and recovery don't always follow a straight line

• Moving away from blame and taking personal responsibility

• The importance of connection, community and ongoing personal development

• How meditation and daily routines support Holly's recovery

• Why stopping drinking can be the beginning of a much bigger transformation

Whether you're questioning your own drinking or wondering what life could look like without alcohol, Holly's story offers an honest perspective on the challenges of change and the possibilities that come with it.

Connect with Holly Hiles

Find Holly through her work at Collapse to Calling.

About The Alcohol ReThink Podcast

Hosted by men's life and sober coach Patrick Fox, The Alcohol ReThink Podcast helps men understand their drinking patterns, challenge unhelpful beliefs and develop the skills and confidence to create lasting change.

Find out more about Patrick's coaching and the Alcohol ReThink Method at www.patrickjfox.com.

What happens when the thing you believe makes you happy is actually making your life harder?

In episode 262 of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast, Patrick welcomes former coaching client Nick to share his journey from drinking most nights to approaching two years alcohol-free.

What started as social drinking during college gradually became a daily habit. A few beers after work turned into five or six drinks a night, frequent blackouts and a constant cycle of anxiety, regret and promises to do things differently.

Nick knew something needed to change, but for a long time he believed alcohol was the only way he could relax, unwind and feel happy.

Eventually, he reached a point where he'd had enough.

In this honest conversation, Nick shares what helped him change his relationship with alcohol, the challenges he faced along the way and why learning to understand his emotions has been one of the most unexpected rewards.

Some of the things they explore include:

• How social drinking gradually became a daily habit

• The cycle of drinking, anxiety and seeking relief

• Why Nick believed alcohol was necessary for happiness

• The importance of changing beliefs, not just behaviours

• Why patience, self-compassion and recognising small wins matter

• Asking for help and finding support from family

• Why coaching only worked when Nick committed to doing the work himself

• The difference nearly two years without alcohol has made to his family, work and emotional wellbeing

Today, Nick is more present with his children, more confident in himself and no longer organising his life around the next drink.

His story is a reminder that changing your relationship with alcohol isn't simply about what you give up. It's also about what becomes possible when alcohol no longer takes centre stage.

Connect with Patrick

If you're ready to rethink the role of alcohol in your life and explore how coaching could help, visit patrickjfox.com.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following The Alcohol ReThink Podcast and leaving a rating or review. It helps more people discover the show.

Have you ever decided you weren't going to drink, only to find yourself negotiating with that familiar voice in your head a few hours later?

"You've had a long week."

"Just a couple won't hurt."

"You can always start again on Monday."

Sound familiar?

In episode 261 of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast, men's life and sober coach Patrick Fox explores why the voice telling you to drink isn't necessarily the voice you need to listen to.

Our brains are brilliant at learning habits, and sometimes the urge to drink is simply an echo of past behaviours rather than a reflection of what we genuinely want.

Patrick shares a personal experiment he's been trying to interrupt habitual urges: talking to himself out loud.

It might sound a little strange, but speaking out loud can help break the hypnotic spell of an urge, interrupt familiar thought patterns and reconnect you with the decisions you've already made.

In this episode, Patrick explores:

• Why drinking urges can feel so convincing, even when you've decided to stop drinking.

• How habitual thoughts can keep you stuck in the same internal negotiations.

• Why speaking out loud might help you respond differently to alcohol cravings.

• What one client's first 30 alcohol-free days reveal about moving beyond the constant mental battle.

• A simple three-step exercise to try the next time an urge appears.

The takeaway? You don't have to believe every thought your brain offers you, and you certainly don't have to act on it.

That voice might simply be an echo of your past.

But you get to decide what you say, and what you do, next.

Your challenge this week: Recognise the urge. Get curious. Speak out loud.

Give it a try and let Patrick know what happens.

Connect with Patrick Fox

Website: https://www.patrickjfox.com

Explore coaching and support for men who want to rethink alcohol and create lasting change.

Connect with Patrick:

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If you love the podcast and want to show your support in helping it continue, you can buy Patrick a coffee here:

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Ben Coombes loved skiing, but each trip seemed to pull him back into the same cycle of heavy drinking, anxiety and feeling as though he wasn’t living up to his potential.

In episode 260 of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast, Patrick talks with Ben about the decision to spend an entire ski season alcohol-free. What began as a challenge to himself became Soberski, a way for others to enjoy the mountains without the expectation to drink.

Ben shares how he built confidence one commitment at a time, why he was surprised by the support he received in a party resort, and what happened when he put his energy into something he cared about.

Awesome things you’ll hear about:

• Why a frightening health scare didn’t immediately change Ben’s drinking

• The moment he realised alcohol was getting in the way of the life he wanted

• How a sober ski season helped him build self-trust

• What guests experience on a Soberski alcohol-free ski retreat

• Why enjoying a holiday without alcohol can open up possibilities beyond the holiday itself

Whether you ski or not, this conversation is an invitation to question what you’ve been told you need alcohol to enjoy.

Find out more about Ben’s or his retreats:

https://www.soberski.co.uk 

@s0berski on Instagram.

Connect with Patrick:

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If you love the podcast and want to show your support in helping it continue, you can buy Patrick a coffee here:

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Have you ever noticed that once you feel annoyed, stressed or anxious, your mind starts finding even more reasons to feel that way?

In episode 259 of The Alcohol ReThink podcast, Patrick shares a story about a difficult school run, that invloved four dog poos and a full-blown argument with an environmental officer who didn’t actually exist.

It became a funny but revealing example of how the mind can take a familiar emotion and build an entire story around it.

Patrick explores the idea of your “emotional home,” the feelings you return to so regularly that they begin to feel like part of who you are.

He explains how your emotional state can influence what you notice, remember and imagine, and why this can turn a frustrating moment into a bad day.

He also looks at how these emotional patterns can fuel the desire to drink, why alcohol only provides temporary relief and how awareness can help you interrupt the cycle without judging or suppressing what you feel.

Awesome things you’ll hear about:

• The imaginary argument that revealed what Patrick’s mind was doing

• What an emotional home is and how yours may have developed

• Why familiar emotions are not necessarily helpful emotions

• How your mood influences the thoughts and stories your mind creates

• Why an imaginary situation can produce a very real emotional reaction

• The connection between stress, emotional patterns and the desire to drink

• Why changing your relationship with alcohol involves more than removing the drink

• How to notice an emotional spiral before it takes over your day

• Four questions to help you identify your own emotional home

If you’re ready to understand the thoughts, emotions and patterns behind your drinking, find out more about DISRUPT, Patrick’s signature group coaching programme, using the link below.

DISRUPT Group Coaching Program - Starts Oct 6th 2026

Connect with Patrick:

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If you love the podcast and want to show your support in helping it continue, you can buy Patrick a coffee here:

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What does 'doing the work' mean once not drinking is no longer the main focus of your life?

In episode 258 of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast, Patrick explores how the work changes as someone matures in sobriety.

In the beginning, it might mean managing alcohol cravings, changing routines and understanding drinking patterns. But as alcohol becomes less important, the focus begins to shift from how to stop drinking towards what to do with the life, energy and clarity that sobriety has created.

Patrick explores the difference between contentment and complacency, why life after quitting alcohol can begin to feel ordinary and how personal growth can become another way of telling yourself that you’re still not good enough.

This episode is for anyone who has made good progress with alcohol but has started to feel as though life is simply happening around them.

Get ready to hear about:

• How “doing the work” evolves in long-term sobriety
• Why alcohol becoming quiet is both progress and a potential risk
• The difference between enjoying life and disengaging from it
• How to avoid turning sobriety into another self-improvement project
• One practical question to help you reconnect with your life

The work doesn’t stop when alcohol is no longer the problem. It shifts from not drinking to how you choose to live.

Ready to DISRUPT?

If alcohol keeps pulling you back into the same cycle, DISRUPT will help you understand what is happening and start responding differently.

It’s Patrick’s signature 12-week group coaching programme for men who want to step out of autopilot, interrupt their drinking patterns and rebuild discipline, energy and self-trust.

With weekly live coaching, practical tools and the support of a small group of men, you’ll learn how to handle urges, stress, social pressure and setbacks without relying on willpower or endless rules. 

➡️ Find out more and join DISRUPT.

What motivates someone to stop drinking might not be what keeps them going?

In episode 257 of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast, Patrick explores how sober motivation needs to change and evolve alongside the person making the change.

Pain may create the initial breaking point. But what happens when the hangovers, anxiety and arguments begin to fade? When life starts feeling better, relying only on memories of how bad drinking felt may no longer be enough.

Patrick introduces three stages of sober motivation:

1. The Breaking Point: becoming honest about what alcohol is costing.

2. What’s Possible: recognising the progress, self-trust and opportunities being created without alcohol.

3. The Pull: becoming emotionally connected to a future that matters more than drinking.

He also shares why a reason such as health, family or work can sound important without feeling truly compelling, and how going deeper can turn a sensible reason into one that creates lasting change.

This episode is for anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol, struggling to stay motivated in sobriety or wondering what comes after they stop drinking.

Because removing alcohol is not the final destination. It creates the capacity to build something more.

Pain might give someone a reason to stop. Progress gives them a reason to continue. Purpose gives them a future they refuse to trade for alcohol.

Cool things covered in this episode:

• Why sober motivation naturally changes over time

• How pain can provide the motivation to stop drinking

• Why noticing progress helps rebuild self-trust

• What to do when motivation to stay alcohol-free begins to fade

• How to create an emotionally compelling reason for sobriety

• Why purpose does not need to look impressive to anyone else

• How to build a life in which alcohol becomes obsolete

  
  

  ⬇️ Resources ⬇️

  
  

  Download ⁠⁠The 5pm Booze Free Habit Builder⁠⁠

  
  

  🔥 Sign up to The 30-Day Method to Break the Cycle of Drinking Without Relying on Willpower

  If YOU feel successful in many areas of life but still find yourself pulled back into the same drinking patterns…

  Then you’re probably MISSING the awareness and tools I’ll be REVEALING inside this FREE 30-Day Training for Men Ready to Take Back Control...

  ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Started Right Away by clicking HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  
  

  Work with Patrick:

  Discover how coaching can support your goals in rethinking alcohol.

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  Connect with Patrick:

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After nearly eight years sober, would Patrick ever drink alcohol again?

It’s a question a friend asked him while they were away on holiday, and his answer was immediate.

In this episode, Patrick reflects on being surrounded by “holiday mode,” watching his daughter drink after turning 18, and the recent coverage of Brad Pitt returning to alcohol after seven years of sobriety.

He explores how stories like Brad Pitt’s can quietly cause someone to question their own sobriety. The mind can easily begin thinking: “If he can drink again, perhaps I can too.”

That’s why protecting your sobriety matters. Not because you need to fear alcohol, but because it’s important to remember what drinking was costing you and what your life has gained since removing it.

Patrick also discusses why the reasons behind your drinking can have such a significant influence on how you drink and the difference between consciously choosing alcohol and using it to escape difficult emotions.

This episode invites you to consider what alcohol would genuinely add to your life, and what you believe you would be going back for.

Cool topics covered:

• Would Patrick ever drink again?
• Brad Pitt’s return to drinking
• Protecting your sobriety from outside influences
• Alcohol and 'holiday mode'
• Turning 18 and the expectations around drinking
• Why comparing yourself with other drinkers can be misleading
• Drinking to escape difficult emotions
• Why your reasons for drinking matter
• The difference between fear and freedom in sobriety

Content advisory: This episode briefly references suicidal thoughts discussed during Brad Pitt’s recent interview. Please take care while listening. If you’re struggling or feel at risk, contact Samaritans free on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland, or seek urgent local support.

⬇️ Resources ⬇️

Download ⁠The 5pm Booze Free Habit Builder⁠

🔥 Sign up to The 30-Day Method to Break the Cycle of Drinking Without Relying on Willpower

If YOU feel successful in many areas of life but still find yourself pulled back into the same drinking patterns…

Then you’re probably MISSING the awareness and tools I’ll be REVEALING inside this FREE 30-Day Training for Men Ready to Take Back Control...

➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Started Right Away by clicking HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Work with Patrick:

Discover how coaching can support your goals in rethinking alcohol.

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Connect with Patrick:

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If you love the podcast and want to show your support in helping it continue, you can buy Patrick a coffee here:

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What happens when the very thing that nearly destroys your life becomes the catalyst for your life's work?

This week I'm joined by Shane Gregory, an addiction specialist, Chinese medicine practitioner, and someone whose own story is unlike anything we've shared on the podcast before.

Shane was introduced to drugs at just fourteen years old. What followed was years of chasing that first high, battling psychosis, hearing voices, experiencing profound mental health struggles, and ultimately finding himself searching for a completely different way to understand addiction and recovery.

Rather than viewing addiction through willpower alone, Shane explains how rebuilding the body, regulating the nervous system, reconnecting with nature, and restoring balance became the foundation of his recovery.

Together we explore why so many people feel lost after removing alcohol, the relationship between the body and the mind, why chasing dopamine can become another addiction, and how practices like breathwork, movement, creativity, and rhythm can help people rediscover themselves.

This is a fascinating conversation that blends lived experience with a completely different perspective on healing.

If you've ever wondered why sobriety can sometimes feel emotionally difficult, or why simply removing alcohol doesn't always feel like enough, you'll find plenty to think about in this episode.

• Shane's introduction to drugs at just fourteen years old.
• The years spent chasing the feeling of that first high.
• Living with psychosis and hearing voices.
• Why heroin unexpectedly became a turning point.
• Discovering Chinese medicine and a new understanding of addiction.
• Why recovery is about rebuilding the body, not just changing your thinking.
• The connection between dopamine, the nervous system, and long-term healing.
• Why creativity, movement, and nature play such an important role in recovery.
• What it really means to become 'radically human.'

Cool quotes

"It's not the drugs. It's us. We're the drugs."

"The chase is what addiction is all about."

"You can't take away your experiences, but you can rebuild the body."

"The world has become disconnected from nature, and addiction is one symptom of that."

"To be radically human is to be radically messy."

Content Advisory: This episode contains discussion of drug addiction, psychosis, suicidal thoughts, mental health, and recovery. Some listeners may find these topics distressing. Please listen with care and seek support if needed.

Connect with Shane

@NotAnotherRehab

@Supreme_Ultimate_Shan

When did you actually learn to want alcohol?

Most of us assume our relationship with alcohol began the first time we had a drink. But what if it started years before that?

In episode 254 of The Alcohol ReThink Podcast, Patrick explores how advertising, culture and everyday life quietly shape our expectations around alcohol long before we ever take our first sip.

From the Budweiser frogs and iconic Guinness adverts to birthdays, weddings and Friday night pints, he asks whether the desire to drink is always our own, or whether we've simply been following a script we never realised we'd learnt.

Inspired by his daughter turning eighteen and wanting to celebrate with her first legal cocktail, Patrick reflects on why alcohol has become so closely linked with celebration, reward and belonging, and why questioning those assumptions can be far more powerful than relying on willpower alone.

This isn't an episode about judging alcohol or telling you to stop drinking.

It's an invitation to pause, get curious, and ask yourself one simple question:

"Where did I learn that alcohol belongs here?"

Because sometimes, a single question is enough to change the conversation you have with yourself.

⬇️ Resources ⬇️

Download The 5pm Booze Free Habit Builder

🔥 Sign up to The 30-Day Method to Break the Cycle of Drinking Without Relying on Willpower

If YOU feel successful in many areas of life but still find yourself pulled back into the same drinking patterns…

Then you’re probably MISSING the awareness and tools I’ll be REVEALING inside this FREE 30-Day Training for Men Ready to Take Back Control...

➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Started Right Away by clicking HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠

Work with Patrick:

Discover how coaching can support your goals in rethinking alcohol.

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Connect with Patrick:

Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠patrickjfox.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Support the Podcast

If you love the podcast and want to show your support in helping it continue, you can buy Patrick a coffee here:

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