When alcohol enters a family system, disconnection, secrecy, and resentment can quietly take root. But what if real, lasting change doesn’t start with confronting the drinker but by shifting the family dynamic itself? In this powerful episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey sits down with Amber Hollingsworth, counselor and family recovery expert, to unpack how families can navigate the pain of alcohol-related disconnection and take practical steps toward reconnection even when their loved one isn’t ready to get help.

Anna and Amber explore the hidden ways alcohol damages connection at home, why the "bad guy" role traps families in unhealthy dynamics, and how boundaries can become bridges (not battlegrounds) for trust and healing. Amber shares her unique approach to working with families even in the absence of the drinker and offers actionable advice for getting out of the villain role, setting real boundaries, and fostering a climate where change is possible.

Whether you’re worried about a partner, a child, or yourself, this episode is full of hard-won wisdom and reassurance: You are not powerless, and there is a way through this.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Why alcohol disconnection is also a family issue

02:34 Amber’s story: 20+ years working with families, reluctant clients, and the “bad guy” trap

05:44 Influencing change even when your loved one isn’t ready

08:00 High-functioning alcohol use, resentment, and the power struggle dynamic

11:20 Why confrontation can backfire and actually prolong change

14:01 Cat-and-mouse dynamics, trust issues, and “drinking police”

16:22 Early work with addicted teens, and the power of being seen

20:29 Listening, curiosity, and the importance of genuine empathy

24:26 Setting clear personal limits (not rules for others)

29:05 Bringing everything above board before real change begins

35:08 How shifting your role (and your boundaries) changes everything

38:27 Stepping back, and letting others connect their own dots

40:55 Progress is messy, and the value of patience

41:58 What you can start doing today

44:49 You are not powerless; with strategy and understanding, things can change

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

What if the real craving behind your evening glass of wine isn’t alcohol, but connection? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey explores the science and psychology of human connection, why disconnection hurts so much, and the small, practical steps you can use to build both belonging and self-connection without reaching for a drink. Anna outlines why we’re wired for relationships, how modern life leaves us more isolated than we think, and how alcohol often becomes a stand-in for real connection. In this episode you’ll discover practical, actionable tools that won’t just boost your mood, they'll rewire your brain for connection, resilience, and real happiness. 

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Introduction - why connection matters

00:51 The modern disconnection epidemic

02:27 Loneliness is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day

05:29 Why rejection literally hurts

07:10 Using alcohol as a substitute for connection

08:46 Why being a stranger to yourself can hurt just as much

13:28 Craving connection vs. craving alcohol

14:02 The science behind connection

22:29 Difference between loneliness and being alone

23:47 The physical toll of loneliness

25:01 Our amazing neuroplasticity to rewire for belonging

26:17 Micro moments of connection: Daily “sparks” that retrain your brain

29:35 Mindfulness, the foundation of real presence and belonging

30:28 Practical Experiments to try

39:51 Loneliness is a biological signal, respond to it, don’t shame it

41:38 Connection comes from presence and authenticity.

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

What does it mean to reconnect to yourself after you stop drinking? This episode of The Big Drink Rethink dives deep into the journey from escapism and numbing through alcohol to living with “radical integrity” and honouring your true values, even when it’s uncomfortable. Host Anna Donaghey welcomes Lauren Burnison, founder of pioneering sober travel company, We Love Lucid and a compelling, raw writer who has built a vibrant community around honest conversations about sobriety, travel, and motherhood.

Lauren shares her rollercoaster story, from early drinking and navigating mean-girl school culture, through wild adventures and substance-fuelled escapes in South America and Asia, to the turning point that led her to choose sobriety for good. Together, they explore why so many of us turn to drinking to self-abandon, how to find meaning beyond alcohol, and what it really looks like to live in alignment with your values even if you don’t always have all the answers.

Here are the Highlights:

00:00 Introduction: Meet Lauren Burnison founder of the sober travel company, We Love Lucid

04:40 Teenage anxiety and self-doubt often lead Lauren to drink alcohol

09:50 Travel, drugs, and alcohol often intertwine

12:03 Alcohol and drugs often create a false sense of connection 

16:48 Turbulent travel experiences led to teaching in safer South Korea.

18:32 Hit rock bottom in South Korea

22:19 A mix of grace and meeting a sober friend helped sustain the decision not to drink.

25:49 Reflecting on nine years of sobriety

28:25 Practicing radical integrity by listening to gut feelings and pausing on desires without clear reasons.

30:54 Tuning into emotions and body helps identify what you need

39:07 Quitting alcohol empowers you to feel capable of anything

41:40 Recognise and fulfill your current needs, to nourish and support personal growth

47:36 Anna highly recommends Lauren’s newsletter.

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Find out more about Lauren Burnison:

After hanging up her booze straps nine years ago, Lauren was inspired to create We Love Lucid, one of the world's first sober travel companies. Passionate about sharing the message that travel without booze can be a life-affirming experience, Lauren has been instrumental in pioneering the sober travel movement. Her company was mentioned and featured in National Geographic, the NY Times and CNN Travel. 

Lauren is a passionate writer. She has a popular newsletter where she shares her experience of life as a sober single mum, along with pre-sobriety anecdotes in a raw and engaging style. Lauren is a huge fan of off-the-beaten track travel, and she is currently getting ready to head off on a campervan trip around Europe with her four-year-old daughter.

Connect with Lauren:

Newsletter: https://www.welovelucid.com/newsletter-sign-up

Website: https://www.welovelucid.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welovelucid/

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

What if feeling lost or disconnected isn’t a flaw, but a gentle nudge toward what you really need? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey invites you to explore how reconnection (to yourself, your values, your body, your relationships, and the world) is at the heart of waking up to a richer, fuller life, especially if you’re rethinking your relationship with alcohol.

Anna shares why this transitional time is a perfect opportunity to reflect, reset, and gently peel back the layers between you and your true self. Blending her lived experience, coaching insights, and practical tools, she explains how years of coping and performing often with alcohol as a buffer can dull our instincts, but also how small acts of honesty and presence can help us come home to ourselves.

Highlights from the episode:

00:00 Introduction: Reflect on the year to reconnect with your true self.

04:47 Rediscover your true self beneath coping mechanisms

08:49 Suppressing emotions through drinking dulls clarity

12:09 Check in with yourself daily by asking, "What do I need today?"

13:17 Reconnecting with our bodies involves recognising and responding to internal signals.

19:28 Find grounding and self-awareness by nurturing a relationship with yourself. 

21:30 Listen, share, and follow the Big Drink Rethink podcast 

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

What if your drinking isn’t the real issue but just a signal pointing toward something deeper? Host Anna Donaghey returns for a refreshed season of The Big Drink Rethink, inviting listeners to widen the lens on alcohol, identity, and what we truly crave beyond the glass. Anna shares her own recalibration after a break, offering a new perspective on presence, self-compassion, and how pressing pause can change everything.

With honesty and warmth, Anna explores why we reach for alcohol (hint: it’s not about the booze), how presence and alignment unlock bigger possibilities, and why the “messy middle” is where so many find themselves stuck. She teases the upcoming shift for the podcast: expect deeper dives, new guest experts, more practical tools, and room for the big, human questions that drinking sometimes masks.

Highlights from the episode:

00:00 Introduction

03:17 Recognise alcohol's role in emotions and seek awareness to live consciously and joyfully, not on autopilot.

07:07 Most drinkers are in the 'messy middle,' struggling internally without external signs of distress. 

11:50 Embrace self-awareness and compassion; you're not alone in your struggles.

15:40 Alcohol issues stem from deeper problems like fatigue, loneliness, and societal stories, not the substance itself.

18:08 Please review and rate the podcast to help it grow and reach more people.

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

What does it look like to totally reimagine your relationship with alcohol and your own definition of success? In this special summer rewind, host Anna Donaghey revisits her conversation with Laura Bartlett, who has scaled and exited a luxury travel brand. She is a bold advocate for living life on your own terms and shares how she went from being tagged in champagne memes to embracing sobriety, and the radical clarity and self-trust that followed. This episode explores how alcohol can mask burnout and insecurity, why setting boundaries is an act of self-respect, and how choosing not to drink (especially at PR and media events) can feel revolutionary but also deeply empowering. 

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction & why this episode matters right now

04:11 Drinking as identity: From champagne memes to a wake-up call

06:00 The power of an absolute decision and what Laura gained by quitting

08:23 How alcohol lowered her energy and “kept her stuck”

14:04 Are you in or out? The energy of decision and consistency

16:22 People-pleasing, boundaries, and caring what you think of yourself

20:57 Reframing sobriety as a positive, expansive choice

21:35 Fear vs. excitement: Seeing sobriety as the start of something bigger

30:40 Laura’s advice for anyone sober-curious: Start small and get curious

🏆Please vote for The Big Drink Rethink in the ITV bCreator Awards 2025

1. Click on the link below

2. Pop in your email

3. Select I’M A SUBSCRIBER / FOLLOWER

4. Select CREATOR SHORTLIST

5. Hit SUBMIT YOUR VOTE

6. Scroll down to the Podcast bCreator category and vote for THE BIG DRINK RETHINK

Here’s the link:🔗 https://www.bcreator.co.uk/awards/

🔗 Get the free SUN Framework toolkit and all our resources from: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com

If you’re a mum wanting to explore your relationship with alcohol, join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About Laura Bartlett:

Laura Bartlett didn’t just build a business - she built a movement. From £0 to global recognition, she scaled and exited a luxury travel brand on her terms, proving that true success isn’t about hustle, it’s about alignment.

Now, as the founder of The Life of Laura movement, she’s leading a global conversation around feminine freedom, energetic wealth and rewriting the rules of success. Mortgage-free and self-retired at 38, with over 3M+ monthly views and a cult-like following, Laura isn’t just speaking - she’s broadcasting frequency. A sought-after speaker, Laura delivers paradigm-shifting keynotes that leave audiences forever changed. Her message? Freedom is the new status symbol.

Connect with Laura:

Website: https://laurabartlett.live/

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

What really happens when we drink, and why does alcohol so often sabotage our intention to relax, connect, or recharge, especially on holiday? In this episode, host Anna Donaghey revisits her powerful conversation with William Porter, author of "Alcohol Explained," to discuss the science and psychology behind alcohol and why it’s become the UK’s favourite coping mechanism, and how a little knowledge can spark profound change. This is an invitation to get curious, notice how alcohol actually makes you feel, and experiment with a different kind of summer.

Here are the highlights: 

00:00 Introduction

03:21 From paratrooper and lawyer to alcohol expert and author

04:46 How alcohol use ramps up

07:45 Rock bottom moments: Understanding what’s really happening

10:18 Demystifying “addiction” and loosening alcohol’s grip

13:59 What happens in your brain, and why you wake up anxious at 3am

17:00 Cravings explained: psychological triggers, and breaking the cycle

20:27 Holidays, happiness, and the myth that alcohol “makes it better”

24:40 Socialising, endorphins, and why sobriety doesn’t mean missing out

28:13 Alcohol’s impact on sleep, anxiety, and your mood

41:36 Joy, hobbies, and rediscovering life beyond the glass

🏆Please vote for The Big Drink Rethink in the ITV bCreator Awards 2025

1. Click on the link below

2. Pop in your email

3. Select I’M A SUBSCRIBER / FOLLOWER

4. Select CREATOR SHORTLIST

5. Hit SUBMIT YOUR VOTE

6. Scroll down to the Podcast bCreator category and vote for THE BIG DRINK RETHINK

Here’s the link:🔗 https://www.bcreator.co.uk/awards/

🔗 Get the free SUN Framework toolkit and all our resources from: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com

If you’re a mum wanting to explore your relationship with alcohol, join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About William Porter:

William is the author of Alcohol Explained and Alcohol Explained 2, widely praised guides for understanding and overcoming alcohol addiction. He began drinking at 14, and his alcohol use increased through a life that included military service in Iraq, a legal career, and work in London’s financial sector. In 2014, his clear-sighted analysis of alcohol’s effects helped him quit drinking, and he has since shared his insights through his books. He lives in West London with his wife and two children and continues to work as a lawyer.

Connect with William:

Website: alcoholexplained.com

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

Why is it so hard to rethink our drinking and what does it actually look like to drink less without going “all or nothing”? In this special summer mini-series of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey revisits her most downloaded conversation with broadcaster and writer Adrian Chiles. Adrian shares his personal, honest journey from heavy to moderate drinking, not by swearing off alcohol, but by noticing when “enough is enough” and finding what works for him.

Adrian’s story brings clarity and realism to moderation, highlighting how even small changes can spark more joy, presence, and satisfaction, when we are conscious of what we drink.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

04:41 Adrian’s story: heavy drinking, shocking discoveries, and the wake-up call

07:12 Counting units: the power of writing it all down

09:29 Challenging “all or nothing”, why moderation might work for you

11:22 The impact of simply removing the drinks you don’t want

13:00 Mindful drinking and choosing what genuinely brings you joy

15:03 Why the first drink is magical (and the fifth, not so much)

23:06 Most people really do drink less than you think

27:20 Why “alcoholic” is an unhelpful label

30:08 Track your drinking, make it simple, take away the shame

33:52 The challenges and freedoms of moderation

35:22 Setting non-negotiables so the “sweet spot” can become your reality

🏆Please vote for The Big Drink Rethink in the ITV bCreator Awards 2025

1. Click on the link below

2. Pop in your email

3. Select I’M A SUBSCRIBER / FOLLOWER

4. Select CREATOR SHORTLIST

5. Hit SUBMIT YOUR VOTE

6. Scroll down to the Podcast bCreator category and vote for THE BIG DRINK RETHINK

Here’s the link:🔗 https://www.bcreator.co.uk/awards/

🔗 Get the free SUN Framework toolkit and all our resources from: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com

If you’re a mum wanting to explore your relationship with alcohol, join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About Adrian Chiles:

Adrian is a familiar face on our televisions and a recognised voice on our radios. He has been a presenter on BBC Radio 5 live since the day it started in 1994. On BBC television, he launched and presented ‘Working Lunch’, ‘Match of the Day 2’, ‘The One Show’ and ‘The Apprentice, You’re Fired’. He was also lead football presenter for ITV. He has a weekly column in The Guardian and writes regularly for the Sun and The Tablet. Last year Adrian wrote a brilliant book called ‘The Good drinker; how I learned to love drinking less’, following the making of a BBC documentary called ‘Drinkers like me’.

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

If you’ve ever wondered why alcohol cravings can feel so powerful or why breaking habits is so tough, this episode is for you.

In this special summer mini-series of the Big Drink Rethink, Anna Donaghey recaps essential brain science insights from past episodes and breaks down how simple psychology can empower your sober-curious journey through the summer.

Anna revisits some of the podcast’s most powerful, brain-based insights from understanding why our cravings aren’t a sign of weakness, to simple tips for outsmarting decision fatigue, and the magic of neuroplasticity. Anna breaks down the core motivations driving our drinking habits and shows how small tweaks in our routines can create lasting, meaningful change.

Here are the highlights: 

00:00 Introduction

06:25 The brain seeks pleasure and avoids pain to ensure survival

08:15 Humans prefer familiar habits to conserve brain energy

13:05 Habits aren't about the substance but the brain's expectations; altering routines can change this

14:11 Alcohol creates an artificial high with negative consequences

20:50 Alcohol hinders decision-making, creating a negative cycle

24:04 Emotional sobriety involves facing and staying with feelings without using alcohol as an escape

27:58 You can change and evolve with your decisions. 

🏆Please vote for The Big Drink Rethink in the ITV bCreator Awards 2025

1. Click on the link below

2. Pop in your email

3. Select I’M A SUBSCRIBER / FOLLOWER

4. Select CREATOR SHORTLIST

5. Hit SUBMIT YOUR VOTE

6. Scroll down to the Podcast bCreator category and vote for THE BIG DRINK RETHINK

Here’s the link:🔗 https://www.bcreator.co.uk/awards/

🔗 Get the free SUN Framework toolkit and all our resources from: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com

If you’re a mum wanting to explore your relationship with alcohol, join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

Do sunny holidays, BBQs, and lazy afternoons have you reaching for another drink almost on autopilot? Summer can bring all sorts of triggers for drinking, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this practical, supportive episode, Anna Donaghey shares five brilliant, totally free tools to help you stay in control of your drinking this summer whether you’re sober-curious, moderating, or just want to be more intentional.

This episode will help you to enjoy the long summer days without ‘beer fear’ and all the other feelings of self-regret and recrimination that can follow after drinking too much. 

Here are the highlights: 

00:00 Introduction: Why summer stirs up drinking scripts

03:05 Tool 1: The SUN Framework: Spot, Update & Nourish your summer stories

08:39 Tool 2: Visualisation – Design summer events in your mind to feel confident and in control

16:42 Tool 3: Moderation strategies: Hydration, skipping fizz, alternating drinks (“zebra striping”), and making mornings matter

24:36 Tool 4: Quick reset exercises: Breathing, mindfulness, emotional check-ins, and changing your physical state

29:39 Tool 5: Journaling: Capture your progress, reflect on your wins, and anchor your new summer story

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If you’re a mum wanting to explore your relationship with alcohol, join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:  https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

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About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment