This week on the Soberistas podcast, Lucy is joined by Della Galton - bestselling novelist, journalist and author of One In A Million (previously released as Ice and A Slice).

Della talks openly about her journey to sobriety, now over 20 years ago, and why she has only recently begun speaking publicly about the role alcohol played in her life.

Together, Lucy and Della explore the shame and secrecy that can surround drinking problems, particularly for women, and how sobriety can become not a loss - but the beginning of something far richer and more authentic.

They discuss:

• Why it can feel so hard to admit alcohol has become a problem
• The fear of being judged
• Identity, reinvention and midlife change
• The freedom that comes with honesty
• How life changed after quitting drinking
• Writing, storytelling and second chances

A warm, thoughtful and deeply hopeful conversation about recovery, truth and what becomes possible when you stop hiding.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you? 

In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Chamberlain, founder of UnashamED - a powerhouse organisation dedicated to tackling shame in education, personal development, and sober living. With a background as a teacher, coach, and consultant, Sarah brings deep expertise in psychology and a fierce passion for creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and unashamed.

We dive into the hidden role of shame in drinking culture, why it so often goes unaddressed in schools and society, and how building shame resilience is essential - not just for educators and young people, but for anyone walking the alcohol-free path.

Sarah shares her personal story of living alcohol-free, the surprising ways shame shows up in sober journeys, and how her MSc research in Positive Psychology has shaped her coaching and training work. It’s a powerful, honest, and hopeful conversation for anyone who’s ever felt ‘not enough.’

🎧 Listen now and discover how to reclaim your story - shame-free.

For more info about Sarah's work, visit her website here.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you? 

In this episode, I'm joined by Sean Daniels - internationally acclaimed theatre director, playwright, and artistic visionary - who has become one of the most powerful voices in the recovery movement. Sean’s work fuses art and activism, using theatre as a catalyst for healing and connection in the fight against addiction.

From his celebrated play The White Chip - a New York Times Critics Pick produced Off-Broadway by Hollywood names like Hank Azaria and Jason Biggs - to his pioneering role as Director of the Recovery Arts Project, Sean shares how storytelling can save lives. He opens up about relapse, stigma, and what it means to live a life in recovery that’s full of purpose and artistic passion.

We talk about:

• The power of art in addiction recovery
• Why The White Chip resonates with audiences worldwide
• How to turn lived experience into meaningful impact
• The stigma around relapse, and what we can do about it
• Hope, theatre, and transformation

🕊️ Hosted by me, Lucy Rocca, founder of Soberistas and long-time sober coach, the Soberistas "Empowered By Sobriety" Podcast explores the real stories behind addiction, identity, and the journey home to yourself.

Tickets to Sean's play, The White Chip, can be purchased here. 

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you? 

In this powerful episode of Empowered by Sobriety, I sit down with Mel, Andy, and Helen to talk about Our Message Our Voice - a moving short film that highlights four deeply personal journeys through alcohol addiction and recovery.

Together, we explore the themes of sober connection, the vital role of community, and the cultural conditioning that surrounds alcohol. Each guest brings a unique and inspiring perspective:

🔹 Helen from Bristol, now 3+ years sober, shares how therapy and daily spiritual practice have helped her pursue inner peace and transformation. Fresh from a life-changing retreat in Spain, she talks candidly about the freedom that sobriety has unlocked.

🔹 Andy, a Senior Pharmacy Technician in the NHS, is 5.5 years sober after what he calls a 25-year drinking "blip." He reflects on the power of building knowledge over time, the influence of Annie Grace’s The Alcohol Experiment, and how meeting others in recovery helped him finally feel worthy.

🔹 Melinda (aka SunflowerField on Soberistas), now 7.5 years alcohol-free, helped co-lead the Our Message Our Voiceproject. She talks about her early days on Soberistas, her work on the ProACTIVE hospital study, and how meditation and teaching Yoga Nidra have shaped her healing path.

This episode is a heartfelt celebration of what’s possible when we speak out, support each other, and choose a sober life. 

You can watch the film here on the Soberistas YouTube page.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you? 

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Sam Roome – sober coach, speaker, trainee counsellor, and author of The Sober Experience. We talk about the impact of trauma on drinking, and how it can be incredibly hard to access help when alcohol becomes a crutch in the midst of life’s chaos. Sam shares her deeply personal story of growing up with two alcoholic parents, becoming a mum herself, and the moment she finally “woke up” to the truth about her own drinking.

We explore how trauma responses can keep us stuck in unhealthy patterns and why the label of “normal drinker” can be dangerously misleading. Sam’s journey is one of transformation, healing, and hope – and a reminder that life after alcohol can be better than you ever imagined.

🎉 Giveaway Alert! Sam is giving away 5 copies of her brilliant book The Sober Experience – tune in to the end of the episode for details on how to enter.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you? 

In this episode, I sit down with Leon Clowes for a deep, inspiring conversation about sobriety and creativity. We explore the long-held belief that alcohol fuels artistic expression—and challenge it head-on. From personal stories to powerful insights, we discuss how true creativity often flourishes not in chaos, but in clarity. Whether you’re sober-curious, on your own alcohol-free journey, or simply interested in the link between mindset and creative flow, this episode will leave you feeling motivated, thoughtful, and uplifted.

Leon Clowes is an artist researcher whose commissions include BBC Radio 4, SPILL, Deptford X, Frieze and SUPERNORMAL festivals. He is a co-founder of Performing Recovery Magazine. As a PhD candidate at London College of Music, Leon is conducting research into self-compassionate auto-ethnographic grief-inspired performance practice. Leon is both a Multitrack Fellow and Open School East Associate Artist.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you? 

Empowered By Sobriety – The Soberistas Podcast

In this episode, Lucy Rocca sits down with the inspiring Liz Folan, known as Running Girl on Soberistas. Recently named the Soberistas Champion in January 2025, Liz embodies everything Soberistas stands for—embracing sobriety with positivity, living alcohol-free to the fullest, and stepping into her true potential as a strong, empowered woman. Tune in as she shares her journey, the joys of sober living, and the mindset shifts that have helped her thrive.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you? 

Lucy Rocca talks to sober influencer and retreats organiser, Isabel Van Zuilen, founder of Sobertopia, a platform for all things alcohol-free.
Izzy's story of boozy binge drinker to happy, self-fulfilled and sharing the power of positive sobriety around the globe is as motivational as it is inspiring.
Enjoy! 😊

About Izzy:
Isabel van Zuilen (Izzy) is an expat from Amsterdam, living in San Francisco, California, with her lovely husband, awesome daughter, two cats and a brand new puppy. She started her sober journey in May 2019, when she dived into the world of sobriety. Trying every n/a bubbly there was, and flying around the world to attend fun sober events - The first one being the Soberistas Workshop in Dublin in 2019! (Link: https://sobertopia.life/my-first-sober-event/ )

In 2021 Izzy started organising sober retreats for women who don't need alcohol to have fun. Nice get-aways, where you can combine a blissful time away, with meeting like-minded women in a gorgeous alcohol-free setting in sunny Spain. For any enquiries, you can connect with her on Instagram at @sobertopia or check out her blog here: www.sobertopia.life.

https://www.instagram.com/sobertopia/

https://www.instagram.com/sobertopiaretreats/

https://sobertopia.life/

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you? 

From boozy benders to finding the joy of sobriety, Sober Mama is Rachael Shephard's debut book. It tells the story of her rollercoaster ride to abstinence and how ditching the Pinot Grigio for good completely transformed her life. In this podcast, I chat to Rachael about her journey to sobriety, writing the book, and everything she has learnt along the way. 

You can follow Rachael on social media at @sobermamaltd (Instagram) and you'll find her book on Amazon here. 

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you? 

Soberistas provides round the clock support to anyone who wants to quit drinking and stay sober. Our members achieve amazing results in their sobriety, and this podcast episode shines the spotlight on one such member, Davelad. Davelad speaks about his four years of sobriety following years of destructive drinking, and how Soberistas helped him achieve this incredible lifestyle change. Discover what made the difference for Davelad after trying other sources of help, and how sobriety has become the foundation of his healthier, happier life.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you?