We Recover Loudly – Personal Recovery and Mental Health Stories

In the final episode of Season 3, Shell is joined by Dawn Comolly, better known as Sober Fish: writer, recovery advocate, and founder of one of the UK’s most vibrant online sobriety communities. Since giving up alcohol in 2016, Dawn has built a space that helps thousands of people swap hangovers and self-doubt for clarity, connection, and confidence always with her trademark honesty and humour.

Dawn shares her journey from teenage drinking and smoking, through years of exhaustion and toxic relationships, to the unexpected click moment that changed her life. Together, she and Shell explore:

• Why “one day at a time” really works in early sobriety
• How COVID shifted drinking habits and the long-term fallout still being felt today
• The hidden shame around alcohol, smoking, and sugar; and why freedom means answering to nothing
• Building self-respect, boundaries, and a life you don’t want to escape from
• Why authenticity, community, and even a healthy dose of swearing are essential in recovery

Dawn’s message is clear: sobriety isn’t dull or restrictive. It’s colourful, liberating, and full of possibility.  Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or questioning your relationship with drinking, this conversation is packed with truth, laughter, and practical wisdom from someone who’s been there and built something extraordinary from it.

CONNECT WITH DAWN :

@ soberfishie 

@ the_unfuck_yourself_coach 

https://www.soberfish.co.uk/

https://m.facebook.com/soberfishie

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this vibrant and vulnerable episode of We Recover Loudly, Shell is joined by Caroline Kelp — aka DJ Flourish: writer, speaker, and creator of the legendary Self-Love Rave. Known for helping women navigate midlife with more joy, connection, and empowerment, Caroline brings her trademark honesty and disco-ball energy to the mic. 

Together, they explore: 

• Growing up with pain and rejection, and how those early experiences shape identity
• The masks we wear — from teenage rebellion to corporate panels — and the courage it takes to drop them
• Social media, addiction, and why “discomfort” can either be a doorway to growth or a drain on our nervous systems
• The power of community, authenticity, and self-love practices in recovery
• How DJing in her forties led Caroline to discover joy, purpose, and a whole new way to connect

Caroline’s story is a reminder that recovery isn’t just about letting go; it’s about creating space for joy, courage, and connection.
 
Whether you’re in recovery, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or simply craving more authenticity in your life, this episode is a celebration of self-love, rebellion, and showing up as your fullest self.
 

CONNECT WITH CAROLINE

https://djflourish.co.uk/

@ ravewithdjflourish 

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this candid and energising episode of We Recover Loudly, Shell is joined by Rosie Turner — accredited ADHD coach, yoga and pilates instructor, podcaster, and founder of ADHD Untangled. Rosie is on a mission to help the neurodivergent community transform what can feel like destabilising struggles into genuine strengths. 

Rosie shares her journey from chaotic school days and extreme highs and lows, to finding clarity through movement, recovery, and her ADHD diagnosis. Together, they unpack the realities of living with ADHD, from perfectionism and rejection sensitivity to the often-overlooked connection between ADHD, eating disorders, and exercise. 

In this episode, they explore: 

• Growing up neurodivergent in a world that isn’t built for you
• How ADHD shows up differently in women (and why so many go undiagnosed)
• The impact of becoming “the label” you’re given at school
• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and learning to manage it
• Why movement can be life-changing for ADHD brains
• The rise in diagnoses and the myths and stigma still holding people back

Rosie also opens up about building ADHD Untangled — from one-to-one coaching to retreats, teen programs, and training wellness professionals to be ADHD-informed — and why representation and understanding in the wellness and sports industries are vital for real inclusion.  Recorded earlier this year, the retreat Rosie mentions has now passed but she has a new one coming up in September where there are still places.  Follow this link for more information - 

 https://alps.untangledco.com/bali-retreat357566-5742 

 
Whether you’re neurodivergent, suspect you might be, or love someone who is, this conversation is packed with insight, relatability, and practical wisdom for navigating life with authenticity.

CONNECT WITH ROSIE:

 @rosieadhduntangled 

@ adhd_untangled 

https://untangledco.com/

 https://untangledco.com/coaching

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this special episode, Shell is joined by Ruth Tansey, team member at the Essex Recovery Foundation, one of the services she credits with her amazing recovery.

Ruth shares her extraordinary journey from a childhood marked by identity struggles and domestic violence, to years lost in addiction, abusive relationships, and life on the streets of London. Now over three years sober, she reflects on how recovery has not only transformed her own life, but given her the opportunity to support others on their path to healing.

Together, they explore:

• The human realities of homelessness and addiction
• How trauma shapes our coping mechanisms and how to break the cycle
• Why community is essential for lasting recovery
• What life in early sobriety is really like
• How purpose and connection replace chaos and isolation

Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about what a vibrant recovery community looks like in action, this episode is proof that transformation is possible.

https://www.essexrecoveryfoundation.org/

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this special episode, Shell is joined by Steve Lawson, community researcher at the Essex Recovery Foundation, ahead of the weekend’s Essex Recovery Festival - a celebration of connection, visibility, and healing through community. 

Steve shares his powerful personal journey from military life and working fatherhood, to depression, addiction, and the moment he knew something had to change. Now two years sober, he reflects on how recovery transformed not just his life, but his relationships, identity and gave him purpose. 

Together, they explore: 

• How alcohol is normalised (and glamorised) in British culture
• The hidden link between mental health and substance use
• The myth of “functioning addiction” and the danger of waiting until it's too late
• Men’s mental health and why it’s still so hard to talk about
• Why recovery isn’t boring — it’s expansive, joyful and full of second chances

Steve also shares what to expect from this year’s Essex Recovery Festival, including breathwork, sound healing, axe throwing (!), live music, and the kind of connection that can change lives.   

Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or still figuring it out this episode shows what real recovery looks like when it's rooted in community, not shame. 

https://www.essexrecoveryfoundation.org/festival

https://www.essexrecoveryfoundation.org/

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this raw, riotous, and deeply moving episode of We Recover Loudly, Shell is joined by writer, comedian, and former homeless addict Iain Anderson, creator of the critically acclaimed one-man show Traumedy: A Guide to Being a Fabulous Homeless Addict.

Together, they explore what it means to survive addiction, homelessness, identity loss, shame and manage to turn it all into a sell-out comedy show.

From growing up in working-class Scotland to hitting rock bottom on the streets of Barcelona, Iain shares:

• The trauma of addiction (not just what causes it — but what it costs)
• His battle with identity in the queer community and beyond
• Why honesty in recovery is more powerful than perfection
• Learning to parent yourself, find your voice, and build real connection
• The grief of losing fake families — and the joy of building chosen ones
• How laughter can shrink shame and break the silence

If you’ve ever felt like you had to become someone else just to survive, or that sobriety meant giving up who you are then this conversation will challenge, validate, and inspire you.

CONNECT WITH IAIN : 

@iainanderson.comedy

https://iainandersoncomedy.com/tour-dates/

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/traumedy-a-guide-to-being-a-fabulous-homeless-addict

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this honest, sharp, and emotionally rich episode of We Recover Loudly, host Shell is joined by Lauren McQuistin - author, vocal coach, retired opera singer and the voice behind the brilliant and brutally relatable @brutalrecovery.

They explore what recovery really looks like when you don’t hit rock bottom and how trauma, voice, and identity are woven into the healing process.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Getting sober at 25 without the “rock bottom” narrative
• Grieving the identities we build through alcohol, achievement, and performance
• How trauma lives in the body and the voice
• The power of voice work and somatic practices in recovery
• What it means to be “too much” in a world that wants you quiet

Lauren also gives a first glimpse into her upcoming book No Lost Causes Club, which redefines what recovery can look like, especially for those who’ve never seen themselves represented in it.

This conversation is full of wit, warmth, and the kind of honesty that lingers. If you've ever felt like you're not “bad enough” to ask for help, or too loud to be loved then this one is for you.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN : 

@brutalrecovery

https://www.laurenmcquistin.com/
https://www.patreon.com/c/brutalrecovery
https://nolostcausesclub.substack.com/

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this passionate and deeply honest episode of We Recover Loudly, host Shell sits down with Glen Rowe: 32 years in the music industry and counting, legendary tour manager, mental health advocate, and founder of KYOTO Music and the charity KATO Trust.  Together they explore what it means to recover, reconnect, and reimagine an industry you’ve spent your life inside.

Glen shares his journey from obsessive teenage drummer to touring the world with Muse, Craig David, and countless others — building a career behind the scenes of music’s biggest stages. But alongside the success came personal sacrifice, burnout, and the quiet grief of a life always in motion. After heartbreak and a night that left him questioning his relationship with alcohol, Glen took a break… and stayed alcohol-free for 450 days, discovering clarity, therapy, and a renewed sense of freedom in the process.

Together, Shell and Glen unpack the changing landscape of the music industry, the importance of access for working-class talent, and the emotional toll of an identity built around work, chaos, and constant performance. They explore addiction, rage, EMDR therapy, and what happens when we stop numbing and start feeling.

Glen’s message is clear: recovery isn’t just for people who struggle from  addiction.  Recovery is about stepping into the life you were meant to live, fully awake, and on your own terms.

Whether you're in music, hospitality, or just trying to figure out who you are without the noise, this conversation is full of truth, grit, and hope.

CONNECT WITH GLEN:

@we_are_kato
@kyotomusicgroup
@kyotorowe

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this open-hearted and empowering episode of We Recover Loudly, host Shell sits down with Camille Vidal, a globally renowned bartender, wellness educator, and founder of La Maison Wellness.  Together they explore what it means to live, lead, and drink more mindfully.

Camille shares her journey from growing up in a vibrant, creative home in the South of France to becoming a global spirits ambassador, living life on planes, behind bars, and in hotel rooms more than her own flat. But behind the glamour came burnout, disconnection, and a craving for balance that eventually led her to yoga, meditation, and a whole new way of showing up in the world and in the drinks industry.

Together, Shell and Camille unpack the spectrum of mindful drinking, the unspoken pressures of hospitality culture, and the subtle but significant grief that can come with losing an identity — whether it’s through giving up alcohol or walking away from a career. They explore the social rituals we build around booze, the importance of creating inclusive drinking spaces, and why the hospitality industry desperately needs a culture shift.

Camille’s message is clear: you don’t have to hit rock bottom to change your relationship with alcohol, and recovery can mean coming home to yourself before you even realise you’ve left.

Whether you’re curious about mindful drinking, craving more balance, or questioning your own rituals, this conversation is packed with compassion, nuance, and plenty of food (and drinks) for thought.

CONNECT WITH CAMILLE : 

Instagram - @mindfullycami

https://www.lamaisonwellness.com/

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this honest and powerful episode of We Recover Loudly, host Shell sits down with Kieron Bailey : a hospitality industry veteran, leadership coach, and creative disruptor!  They explore his raw and relatable journey through recovery from grief, and professional collapse.

Kieron shares openly about growing up in a chaotic, and busy council estate home surrounded by siblings.  He talks about his early passion for hospitality, with an early start in the world of pubs and restaurants, and how years of emotional suppression, career overdrive, and personal loss led to a turning point. From being the life of the party to losing his sense of purpose, his story is filled with brutal honesty, dark humour, and as to be expected from Kieron, lots of wisdom.

Together, Shell and Kieron unpack what it really means to recover from systems, roles, and identities that no longer serve us. They discuss the emotional toll of hustle culture, the importance of boundaries in leadership, and how redefining success means getting uncomfortable, taking responsibility, and learning to live with uncertainty.

Now focused on building psychologically safe workplaces and disrupting toxic leadership norms, Kieron brings deep insight into what it takes to rebuild — not perfectly, but authentically.

If you've ever felt burned out, stuck in a role that doesn’t fit, or like you’re holding it together on the outside while falling apart inside then this conversation is for you.

CONNECT WITH KIERON : 

Instagram - @theboybaileyspeaks

https://www.linkedin.com/in/theboybaileyspeaks/

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email [email protected]

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com