Up For A Chat

UC 427: Alcohol-Free and Empowered: Sarah Rusbatch on Grey Area Drinking, Hormones & Self-Love


Listen Later

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Cyndi and Kim sit down with Sarah Rusbatch, a health and wellness coach and author, to unpack the growing conversation around grey area drinking—a space where many women find themselves, struggling with their relationship to alcohol but not fitting the traditional mold of addiction.

Sarah shares her own journey from social drinking to sobriety, and how becoming alcohol-free in 2019 transformed her health, mindset, and purpose. The discussion explores how alcohol affects women’s hormones, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, and why even moderate drinking can have serious consequences on health and well-being.

This episode is filled with inspiration, science, and practical tips for any woman questioning her relationship with alcohol or seeking a healthier, more empowered lifestyle.

What You’ll Learn:

  • What grey area drinking is—and how to identify it
  • The link between alcohol and estrogen dominance in women
  • Why women metabolize alcohol differently than men
  • The mental and emotional health impacts of alcohol
  • How alcohol disrupts dopamine and serotonin levels
  • The social stigma and judgment faced by women who choose not to drink
  • Why self-love and alcohol-free living go hand in hand
  • How effort-based dopamine boosts like exercise and goal-setting can replace drinking
  • Tips for navigating relationships when one partner continues to drink
  • Stories of transformation from Sarah’s “Rediscovering Me” program
  • Quotes

    There is an unconscious link in the way you have fun with your friends as that is how you drink alcohol.
    I was a fish out of water.
    People would say – Sarah you’re hilarious when you’re drunk.
    I created a neural pathway when drunk, I became Sarah the party girl!
    I wore my capacity for alcohol like a badge of honour, it was girl power!
    Alcohol helps us to not feel disconnected and gives a big dopamine hit.
    There is a ‘Mummy win’ culture – my kids whine so I drink wine!
    It was like the light inside was going out.
    Decided to take a 21 day break and could not believe the difference.
    Society tells us if you can take 100 days off you don’t have an alcohol issue.
    I started to realise everything was better when I didn’t drink!
    The liver will always choose a substance outside of the body.
    It takes 72 hours for alcohol to leave the system,
    There is a 35% increase in the risk of breast cancer and alcohol use.
    80% of women don’t know that alcohol – 3-4 units is a risk.
    The more you drink the bigger the risk.
    Alcohol makes us very bloated and puffy.
    I’m not the fun police but I want to educate women on what alcohol is doing.
    There is a huge ‘grey area’ I talk about.
    An addiction is anything we crave and have trouble giving up.
    Be careful of anything that gives you a dopamine hit without effort.
    A goal is a powerful dopamine hit, we are at our happiest when working towards a goal.
    Alcohol keeps us small.
    We have to live our lives for us.
    Most grey-area drinkers will associate with other grey-area drinkers.
    Only you can do it but you can’t do it alone.
    Do the self-enquiry, be with self, take in the world.
    Get curious.
    Unless someone wants to change – they wont.
    Our children watch everything we do.
    When we know better we do better.

    About Sarah Rusbatch:

    Sarah is a certified Health & Wellbeing Coach, keynote speaker, and author, specialising in helping women redefine their relationship with alcohol. She supports women who don’t identify as having an addiction but know alcohol is affecting their health, relationships, and happiness. Sarah’s programs have helped thousands of women step into greater self-worth and freedom through sobriety.

    Where to Find Sarah

    Website: www.sarahrusbatch.com
    Instagram: @sarahrusbatch
    Courses: https://sarahrusbatch.com/courses

    Cyndi O’Meara Links

    Website – https://thenutrition.academy/
    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cyndiomeara/
    https://www.instagram.com/thenutrition_academy/
    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cyndi.lovetto
    https://www.facebook.com/thechnutritionacademy

    Kim Morrison Links

    Website – https://www.kimmorrison.com/
    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kimmorrison28/
    https://www.instagram.com/twenty.8.essential/
    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KimMorrisonTraining
    https://www.facebook.com/twenty8essentials

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Up For A ChatBy The Wellness Couch

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    13 ratings


    More shows like Up For A Chat

    View all
    That Paleo Show by The Wellness Couch

    That Paleo Show

    20 Listeners

    Life By Design Podcast by Dr. Jamie Richards and Dr. Kresimir Jug

    Life By Design Podcast

    24 Listeners

    Nourishing the Mother by Bridget Wood & Julie Tenner

    Nourishing the Mother

    24 Listeners

    Wellness Women Radio by The Wellness Couch

    Wellness Women Radio

    25 Listeners

    HOT For Your Health by Dr. Vonda Wright

    HOT For Your Health

    165 Listeners

    The Property Couch by Bryce Holdaway & Ben Kingsley

    The Property Couch

    58 Listeners

    No Filter by Mamamia Podcasts

    No Filter

    582 Listeners

    Health, Happiness  Human Kind by Steph Lowe

    Health, Happiness Human Kind

    38 Listeners

    Health Report by ABC

    Health Report

    138 Listeners

    Mamamia Out Loud by Mamamia Podcasts

    Mamamia Out Loud

    651 Listeners

    Straight Talking Natural Health by Jules Galloway

    Straight Talking Natural Health

    7 Listeners

    Primal Alternative Podcast by Helen Marshall

    Primal Alternative Podcast

    5 Listeners

    The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

    The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

    8,883 Listeners

    Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

    Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

    3,936 Listeners

    The Barefoot Movement Podcast by Paul Thompson

    The Barefoot Movement Podcast

    15 Listeners

    The Hormone Solution with Karen Martel by Karen Martel: Certified Hormone Specialist

    The Hormone Solution with Karen Martel

    332 Listeners

    A Life of Greatness by Sarah Grynberg

    A Life of Greatness

    169 Listeners

    The Dr Louise Newson Podcast by Dr Louise Newson

    The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

    246 Listeners

    The Imperfects by Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg

    The Imperfects

    410 Listeners

    The Resetter Podcast with Dr. Mindy by Dr. Mindy Pelz

    The Resetter Podcast with Dr. Mindy

    1,352 Listeners

    Self Love Podcast by The Wellness Couch

    Self Love Podcast

    10 Listeners

    Something To Talk About by Stellar

    Something To Talk About

    95 Listeners

    Head Game by Nova Podcasts

    Head Game

    25 Listeners

    MID by Mamamia Podcasts

    MID

    102 Listeners