This week we are joined by one of our fantastic community members Rafael Briceño on Over The Influence!

Rafael is here with a simple question: if today was your final day, would you want to spend it drunk? There's a good chance that the answer to that question is a firm no. If quitting drinking is what it takes to start living, then make it happen.

With that mindset, Rafael managed to end his relationship with alcohol after fifty years and he wants you to know, if he can do it then you can too.

Thank you so much to Rafael for coming on to the podcast and being a part of our community, we love having you around!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

---

Links:

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

This week we are joined by the fantastic Ali Press on Over The Influence!

Ali is a counsellor and coach from London who has a passion for helping people who in some way feel different. Whether that difference comes in the form of neurodivergence, gender, sexual orientation or anything else, Ali is spreading the message that understanding yourself is the key to transformation. 

If you'd like more information about Ali you can visit their website alipress.uk. Thanks so much for coming on and sharing your story with us Ali!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

---

Links:

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

This week we welcome the wonderful Ellie Webb to the podcast! Ellie is the founder of one of our favourite AF drink brands, Caleño.

While taking a break from alcohol in 2017, Ellie was shocked at how limited the drinks options were for people who didn't drink. We've all had the conversation with the bar person where they've looked back at us blankly after asking about their alcohol free options to hear "yeah, do you want a coke?". Well, Ellie decided enough was enough.

Now in 2024, Caleño is flying off the shelves in the supermarkets and bar are stocked full of it. If you'd like to stock your fridge full of it too, you can visit calenodrinks.com

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

---

Links:

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we welcome back one of our all time favourite guests to the podcast to kick off Sober October, author of Alcohol Explained, William Porter!

William's book played a huge part in Shazza's own sobriety journey - she read it early on and it made so many things click for her. He also played a big part in Ben's because when William first came on the podcast, Ben was moderating - but chatting to William was one of the big things that made him think he should give this full on AF thing a proper go!

In this conversation we talk about alcohol's influence on society as a whole, about why people who have been AF for a long time may experience a blip, and also about why more isn't being done by the people in charge when it comes to educating the public about the dangers of alcohol.

Of course, if you'd like to hear more about William's own story, scroll back to Series 2 and listen to the first episode we recorded with him - all the way back in October 2020!

We couldn't think of anyone better to kick off Sober October with, so thank you again to William for his time. If you're sober curious and doing Sober October, don't forget you don't need to do it alone! All the information you need about joining our community is below.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

This episode is a special one for us... We can't quite believe it, but we've hit 100 episodes of Over The Influence!

(For those looking and going "er... it says 79 guys..." - this is Episode 79 of Series 3 but the 100th episode of OTI overall including our first two series and our special episodes!)

When we started this podcast, we committed to producing just ten episodes... We wanted to talk openly about our experiences of alcohol-free life, in the hope that it would inspire a few others to give sobriety a try.

What happened next was beyond our wildest dreams... We've now get thousands of people listening to the podcast every single day, from all over the world... And we want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has downloaded us.

We'd also like to say a huge thanks to every single one of the fabulous guests who've appeared as part of our first 100 episodes - we are so grateful that you choose to share your story through our platform, and we thank each and every one of you for the honesty, the laughs, and the lessons.

This 100th episode felt like the right time to launch something we've been working on for a while... OTI Coaching! We won't wang on about it here, instead have a listen to Sara, Jenny and Susan talk about why they became coaches and how they now help people who want to go alcohol-free.

If you'd like to work with any of our OTI recommended coaches, go to overtheinfluence.co.uk/coaching

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to Anneka Reece, a health and mindset coach who specialises in alcohol-free living and manifestation.

When you remove alcohol from your life, all sorts of amazing things start to happen... Is it a coincidence? Anneka believes that sobriety is a manifestation superpower, and in this episode she explains what manifestation is, what effect it can have on your life, and how you can supercharge it as someone who's alcohol-free.

If you're someone who thinks that manifestation is a bit "woo-woo" and not your cup of tea - then you're exactly the person we'd love to listen to this episode! Anneka explains how manifestation is actually rooted in realism, psychology and neuroscience - and how successful people have been manifesting for centuries.

If you'd like to find out more about manifestation, your sobriety superpower, then Anneka is running a Masterclass for us on Thursday 29th September - its exclusive for our OTI Community members, so if you want to join us, the links are below!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to four of our fabulous OTI Community members, Maz, David, Will and Denise, about the weekend we spent in Wales for the very first OTI Summer Camp!

We love connecting on Zoom and through our forums and OTI Chat, but now that we're all able to get together properly again, nothing can beat a bit of face-to-face connection. Thirty members drove from all over the country (one even flew in from Bahrain!) to be there with each other to climb the epic Mount Snowdon but also to chat, connect and to be active in their sobriety.

There was the sunrise trek, paddle boarding, kayaking, singing around the campfire... It was a packed schedule! But everyone had a smile on their face for the entire time - they were using the energy and motivation that going alcohol free gives you, and they were pushing themselves out of their comfort zones - but they were all in it together.

If you think that connection is the missing piece of the puzzle for you, then we'd love for you to join us! You can find the info below, and we'll be releasing our full schedule of events for 2023 very soon!

Thank you to Maz, David, Will and Denise for coming on to the podcast to share their experiences of the weekend - and for being fabulous members of our community. We built the platform, but our members built the environment - it really is one of the happiest corners of the internet!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to wonderful Justin Jones, who's now over 4 years alcohol-free!

Justin has the most dreadful year in 2016. He and his wife Lucy were expecting twins when on Boxing Day (four months before the due date) they were rushed in to hospital. The boys were born incredibly early and weighed next to nothing - and tragically, after they'd been released from hospital months later and back at home, their little boy Maximus stopped breathing.

They lost Maximus, and we thank Justin so much for speaking so openly and bravely about his little boy.

Later that year, Justin lost both his brother and his Mum. His drinking ramped up, and he became very good at hiding it. But despite everything that had happened, after running a Spartan race and not getting the time he'd hoped for, Justin decided that something had to change - and he started his alcohol-free journey, and the rest is now history.

Justin is an incredibly brave man, and this conversation is one of the most powerful conversations we've ever had on the podcast. Justin's message is simple - talk. Talk to the people around you, and seek professional help if you need it. It isn't weak to open up and be vulnerable during difficult times - its strength.

You can find out more about Justin and read his blog at alcoholfreeaf.substack.com

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

Once a month Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free. In this episode, they talk to Maisy - a 22 year old who gave up alcohol 101 days ago!

Maisy talks to Charlie & Joey about what it was like to give up alcohol whilst in hospital. It wasn't just alcohol that contributed to her being admitted to a psychiatric ward, but it was definitely a factor - Maisy is also Charlie's younger sister, so Charlie speaks about what it was like for her as a family member at this point in her sister's life.

Maisy is incredibly brave and speaks very honestly about her experience in hospital, and what it's been like since. She talks about how important it is to her to maintain her sobriety since leaving hospital and about some of the reflections she had whilst she was there about her former life as a drinker.

If you feel as if you need any sort of help, with body or mind, the first thing is to make sure you talk to someone about how you're feeling - and book in with your doctor. It can feel scary to open up, and going in to hospital was scary for Maisy - but as you'll hear it was a time in her life that ultimately has helped her hugely.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Laura Jarvis from The Alcohol and Drugs Service which works in Doncaster, Hull and East Riding in the North of England.

Laura has worked for The Alcohol and Drugs Service for 15 years. She started off working with clients directly, but now works for their Generis service which works with employers and schools who have issues with drugs and alcohol in the workforce and with students.

Most service users go ADS when they've hit rock bottom - as you know, at OTI we strongly believe that you don't need to have a rock bottom to decide to rethink your drinking, and we believe that there's huge power in prevention - so it was great to chat to Laura because she is helping to educate people before a problem with alcohol or drugs escalates.

You can find out more about the Alcohol and Drugs Service here: https://ads-uk.org

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to one of our fabulous OTI Community members, Jenny Downs, on the day that she hit 1000 days alcohol free!

Jenny has been on the podcast before and told us her story about why she decided to remove alcohol - in this episode she gives us an update on what's happened to her since the last time we spoke, and there have been some pretty monumental changes!

Jenny is in her early 50s (although she looks at least 10 years younger than that, if not more!) and her sobriety hasn't just given her a new lease of life personally, it has now also given her a complete career change. In this episode she talks about the accredited coaching training she's done with Andy Ramage (who we had on the podcast last week) and how she's now coaching people who want to be alcohol free on a 1-2-1 basis.

If you'd like to find out more about Jenny's coaching, visit cooperative-coaching.com - and of course, if you're thinking of becoming a coach yourself then go to andyramage.com/oti!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to the AF legend, Andy Ramage!

Andy is over 8 years alcohol-free himself and when he decided to rethink his drinking, the AF landscape was very different. Andy is a pioneer of the idea that, as he calls them, "middle lane drinkers" can see the benefits of giving up alcohol no matter where they are on the drinking scale - and once he ditched booze for good himself, so many things changed for him both personally and professionally.

This is the second time Andy has been on the podcast, as we first spoke to him as a guest just over two years ago where he told us his story. If you'd like to go back to listen to that episode before you listen to this one, https://www.overtheinfluence.co.uk/podcast/episode/5093593a/s2-ep4-andy-ramage-the-legend.

In this episode, we chat to Andy about what he's been up to since we last spoke to him - and the answer is, a lot! Andy has been an accredited coach for a long time, but now he is coaching the coaches through his fabulous courses. So many of our community members have done Andy's courses, and some are now making a living out of 1-2-1 coaching too - giving up alcohol really does lead to some extraordinary changes!

If you'd like to hear the Extra Special Bonus Bit that we recorded with Andy at the end of this episode all about his coaching course, click here to listen now. And, of course, if you fancy doing one of Andy's courses yourself then you can book your place on this page too!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

Once a month Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free.

In this episode, they talk about what it's like to be single and on the dating scene to being in relationships when you decide to give up alcohol - from dry dating (which is a growing trend amongst all age groups) to sober sex, they cover a range of topics with honesty, kindness and just the odd giggle!

We love that these episodes are being shared amongst young people who have decided to give up alcohol, or at a stage where they're rethinking their drinking. If you're young at heart but not necessarily still young in years, we'd love you to share this with anyone in your life who you think could benefit.

Charlie and Joey are fabulous examples of how anyone can choose to live their life differently at any stage - you don't have to drink if you don't want to, you don't have to drink just because other people are, and you absolutely can choose to live your life differently!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

Our community member Ian Thurlbeck is back for his third round in the OTI ring!

We spoke to Ian after one year, then two years and so now we're catching up with him again after four years to find out what alcohol free life is like for him further down the road.

We chat about the new habits he has formed as a result of ditching alcohol and how the integration into alcohol free wasn't the shock he suspected that it might be.

If you're inspired by Ian's story, then we're sure he'd love to meet you! We're very lucky that Ian hosts regular Zoom calls for us in our OTI Community, and you can find all of the details below if you think connection could be the missing piece of the puzzle for you.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

---

Links:

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to Linsey Hydrick in America, who found Over The Influence after Shaz appeared on Annie Grace's podcast... And she has listened ever since!

Linsey wanted to come on and tell us her story as she's been on an alcohol-free journey for the past eleven years. Drinking for Linsey always created problems, right from when she went on a school trip to Europe and was reprimanded for drinking when she wasn't supposed to. Drinking became a part of whichever identity she was trying on when she was growing up, as it is with so many of us when we're finding our feet and finding out who we are.

She is very passionate about blaming the substance - this highly addictive, well-marketed substance - rather than the individual when it comes to alcohol. Since removing alcohol she has found her true authentic self, and has never felt happier - and like many of us, she wishes she'd found this out sooner.

She's now passionate about sharing her story in the hope that it helps others, and we thank her for getting in touch - Linsey, it was fabulous to meet you, and we're so glad that OTI has become such a big part of your AF toolkit!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

Today the majority of schools in the UK break up for the six week summer holidays... So we thought it would be a great time to release this, our Premium Podcast Special!

If you don't know already, every single week we release an extra edition of Over The Influence just for our subscribers and community members. It's Shaz and Ben wanging on about whatever AF topic they want to bring to the table... It's fun, it's honest, and so many people are loving the extra dose of OTI in their podcast app every week.

When we first launched the OTI Premium Podcast, we created a mini-series called Survive The Summer - we talk about bank holidays, boozy BBQs, all inclusive holidays, camping trips, summer events - the lot. And with the school holidays kicking off again, we thought it was a great time to let you know about it.

Because you don't just get our new episodes when you subscribe to the Premium Podcast... You get our whole back catalogue too, which is now over a year's worth of podcasts that we've released every single week without fail!

So, if you need something to listen to when you're on the sunbed, or taking a quiet few minutes away from the kids causing chaos on their summer break... Subscribe now, and let us know what you think!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to Daniel from Lancashire, who's been an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for nearly 17 years.

Daniel talks to us about his journey to AA, and how a conversation with a tourist when he was working abroad completely changed his life. He also talks about how he didn't know what to expect when he attended his first AA meeting, but even all these years later he remembers how warm the welcome was and how the things discussed changed his perspective.

Daniel is an active member of AA in the sense that he participates, but he also gives a lot back to the organisation - he spoke to us the night before flying to Italy to take part in an AA conference for young people, of which he's been part of the organisational team. He talks about the importance of giving back, and how it benefits him as much as it benefits those he's helping.

Of course, Daniel doesn't reveal his surname on the podcast because of the rules within AA about keeping your identity anonymous when speaking in the media - but he talks to us about how in his everyday life he's an open book when it comes to his journey with alcohol. After all, you never know how an honest chat could change someone's life...

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode Shaz puts Ben in the hot seat as a guest, as he's celebrating being two years alcohol free!

Ben started producing this podcast when he was a drinker - and he never expected that he'd end up giving up alcohol himself! After a brief flutter with moderation, Ben decided to take the plunge and go fully alcohol free in July 2020 after lockdown threw his initial plans out of the window... He intended to do three months and then go back to drinking, and was almost annoyed when the benefits of alcohol free life started to happen pretty much straight away.

Ben truly believes that you don't have to have a rock bottom to rethink your drinking, and that anyone can feel the benefits of giving up alcohol, no matter where they sit on the drinking scale. If you've only just found the podcast, go back and listen from the very beginning - you can hear Ben's journey unfold in real time and so many people have told us that his story has been a huge inspiration to them.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we link up with Hollywood as actor Shaun Weiss joins us from Los Angeles!

Shaun rose to fame in the 90s as a child actor when he had a starring role in The Mighty Ducks movies as Greg Goldberg, the team's tough but loveable goalkeeper. He'd acted before this but it was these movies that cemented his love for the profession, and he made friends for life who still play a big part in his story to this day.

Shaun's addictions started in his early 30s after his mother died, something that absolutely devastated him. He talks to us about the day he knew that he was in for a long journey as he walked to the liquor store and heard that little voice in the back of his head - the accessibility of alcohol meant that this was the first thing he turned to, but it soon led to an addiction to other substances too.

Shaun hit rock bottom, and was sitting in a jail cell when one of the deputies came in with a picture of him on his phone as one of the Mighty Ducks - and a few days later Shaun was all over the news. What happened next was extraordinary - an army of fans from 30 years ago sent Shaun their love and their support, and made him realise that there were people out there who wanted to see him do well.

This moment was the start of Shaun's stunning recovery, and today he is thriving. We'd like to thank Shaun for spending an hour with us and being so honest about some extremely difficult times in his life - and as you'll hear, we're hoping to see him in a bell tent at the bottom of Snowdon soon!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

On the last Monday of every month, Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free.

In this episode, Charlie is dialling in from Spain as she's been away for a couple of weeks - and, of course, she's done it all alcohol-free!

She talks about her experience in Morocco, where it's very rare to see people drinking alcohol - and how that made her reflect on our culture.

Charlie and Joey also give some great tips for those who are AF but have a holiday coming up that they may be worried about - and of course, as always, its full of inspiration for people who are young and sober.

Safe travels home Charlie!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to FOUR of our OTI Community members who took part in our Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge: Danny, Kerry, Neil and Sara!

This challenge was the start of many more events to come from OTI, and it was a magical day of friendship, conversation and connection. Members came from all over the world to take part, with one member even travelling from BRISBANE to Yorkshire to meet up with her fellow OTI Community members for a 25 mile hike through the Yorkshire Dales.

When you give up alcohol, your world gets bigger - and you do things you'd never expect that you'd either want or be able to do! The Yorkshire Three Peaks isn't a walk in the park, but every member completed it with a smile on their faces - we absolutely got each other through in the same supportive way we approach going alcohol free every day as part of the online community.

If you think that connection is the missing piece of the puzzle for you, then we'd love for you to join us! You can find the info below, and yes, as the Y3P was so successful we're already planning our next real-life meet up event!

Thank you to Danny, Kerry, Neil and Sara for coming on to the podcast to share their experiences of the day - and for being fabulous members of our community. We built the platform, but our members built the environment - it really is one of the happiest corners of the internet!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we catch up with Ian Thurlbeck, an OTI Community member who's now over two years alcohol free!

The last time Ian was on the podcast he talked about his first year of sobriety, as we spoke to him on the day of his 365 days milestone - in this conversation we talk about how things continued to change for him since, and how his second year of sobriety has given him so much more than he ever could have expected.

For the vast majority of us, the first year AF is spent focussed on not drinking - it's ticking off the first wedding, the first birthday, the first sober Christmas - and that's absolutely the right thing to do. However, if you carry on past the year mark, that's when the really exciting stuff can start to happen... When the rewards for your efforts really start to come in.

Ian talks about the rewards he's found in his second year of sobriety, and very honestly reflects back on how far he has come. Ian is an incredible role model for men, because he isn't afraid to be vulnerable - he's modest, he's kind and he's inspirational.

If you're inspired by Ian's story, then we're sure he'd love to meet you! We're very lucky that Ian hosts regular Zoom calls for us in our OTI Community, and you can find all of the details below if you think connection could be the missing piece of the puzzle for you.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to Andy Garwood, who's over 4 years alcohol free and someone who Shazza has known since the very start of her own AF journey!

Andy was a daily drinker and gave up alcohol because he had some very strong reasons why - he wanted to be the best man he could be for his young children. One day he was showing them how to do burpees when he snapped his ankle - he was overweight, and knew that things needed to change.

Andy's social circle were all drinkers, and he had some challenging moments in the early days of his sobriety - but he knew that he wanted to give alcohol free like a go so stuck to his guns. Interestingly, he talks to us about how the change he has made has impacted on some of his friends - he's no longer the only one who's changing the way he drinks.

Andy has achieved some incredible things since going alcohol free, from taking part in ultra marathons to climbing Kilimanjaro. Not only that, but his ultra marathons inspired two very important people in his life to give their own physical challenges a go - his two children.

If you'd like to follow Andy, search for "Andy Garwood - Life Beyond Booze" on Facebook.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

On the last Monday of every month, Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free.

In this episode, Charlie and Joey talk about the triggers that could catch young people off guard when they decide to go sober, and some of the tools that have helped them in their sobriety.

When you're young, and especially in an environment like university where you're constantly surrounded by other people, your social circle is hugely important - and it can be harder to keep yourself to yourself. There are always nights out, drinks planned with your course mates, drinks planned with your society friends... It can feel like your sobriety is constantly being tested.

In this episode Charlie and Joey talk about things like breathing, taking yourself off for a quiet few minutes, and even a sober pre-drinks routine that Charlie does which she finds really helpful when it comes to getting herself ready for a big night out.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

This week Shaz and Ben are joined by Alex Clapp, a sober events organiser with his company Claritee based in the North West of England.

Alex chats everything from pickles to pandas on this episode (it'll make sense) and shares his story of how sobriety has opened a whole new world to him that he didn't know could exist on the other side of ditching alcohol.

If you would like to take a look at what events Club Claritee have coming up, visit clubclaritee.uk or you can follow @clubclaritee.uk on Instagram.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

---

Links:

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to Jane Mackenzie, a mother who lost her daughter Amy to alcohol.

Amy struggled with alcohol dependence for her whole adult life, and  watching her going slowly downhill - and being powerless to stop the progression of this dreadful disease - was a very painful experience for Jane, their family and Amy's friends.

Jane talks to us about Share Shrewsbury, the charity she has set up to support people affected by alcohol in her local community. Tragically, Amy died just as the charity was in its very early days, and Jane talks to us about how she found the strength to carry on with this hugely important work whilst grieving for her daughter.

She also talks to us about the virtual conference she recently put on, called Alcohol: Sharing The Truth. Jane has been working tirelessly to bring together some of the world's leading experts on alcohol research and the treatment of alcohol dependence to highlight just how dangerous alcohol can be and also how drastically underfunded this area is.

If you would like to watch any of the talks back, we'd urge you to email Jane to request the link - email shareshrewsbury@gmail.com

Jane spoke to us on the eve of the conference, and we'd like to thank her so much for giving us an hour of her valuable time. Jane is an incredible woman, and we are proud to be able to use our platform to help her spread her message.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Fraser Franks, a former professional footballer who started to struggle with alcohol after a medical diagnosis put a stop to his career overnight.

We're Sharon and Ben, two normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Fraser got in touch with us through Instagram because he listened to the podcast and wanted to share his story. He's particularly passionate about sharing his story with young men who have felt some of the same pressures that he has felt, especially men who have grown up in masculine environments.

Fraser abstained from alcohol for a lot of his life due to his professional commitments - if he did have a drink it was never much, because his dream as a child was to be a professional footballer and he wanted to do it to the best of his ability. He was signed by Chelsea at the age of 8 years old, went to play on to Brentford and England, and finished his career as captain of Newport County.

During one game for Newport, Fraser didn't feel right - so he did what he never did and asked to come off the pitch. He was diagnosed with a heart problem and his career was over like that - he then started to drink because it was something he'd never let himself do before, and before too long the signs that it was becoming a problem started to creep in.

Fraser is coming up to a year alcohol free now, and has discovered things about himself that he'd never known before. He talks to us about these discoveries, in terms of confidence and passions that he's now embracing - including getting his budgie smugglers out! The conversation about cold water therapy and how that has helped not just his mind but his heart condition is incredibly interesting.

If you'd like to follow Fraser on social media, you can find him on Instagram - @fraserfranks

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Rosie, a wonderful young woman from the UK who now lives in New Zealand happily drug and alcohol free!

We're Sharon and Ben, two normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Rosie got in touch with us because she's listened to the podcast for a long time and wanted to talk about something we haven't talked about much before - the link between alcohol and eating disorders.

Rosie would under-eat and over-exercise in the week to essentially save up calories for her alcohol intake at weekends, and to maintain the "party girl" figure she thought she needed to have to fit in. Rosie talks to us about the pressure she felt to look a certain way, and the detrimental affects that this had on both her mental and physical health.

Rosie is also an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and talks to us about her experiences of attending meetings and being an active part of the AA community which has been overwhelmingly positive. As a Buddhist, she talks to us about how Buddhism and AA have overlapping principles and how both now provide her with the connection she needs to remain drug and alcohol free.

We are so glad that Rosie got in touch with us, and we're so grateful for her honesty. If you'd like to follow Rosie on social media, search for "Sober Not Boring" on Instagram.

If you are in the UK, you can find links to local support for eating disorders on the NHS website - or there are lots of useful links on this page of the MIND website.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Niamh O'Sheehan who says she walked her way sober!

We're Sharon and Ben, two normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Niamh gave up alcohol over 3 years ago, but it wasn't plain sailing... Especially at the beginning. She didn't actually make it past the second day AF, after going to a restaurant and being offered a free bottle of wine with dinner. However, she decided to commit to going alcohol-free for a month whilst committing to walking every day too, and slowly things started to change.

As the alcohol left her system, Niamh stopped talking to herself negatively and started to gain confidence in herself. If she could do 28 days without alcohol... Could she do 90? Could she even do a full calendar year alcohol free?

As well as giving us some fabulous insights and tips for AF newbies, Niamh also talks to us about her business Walk Your Way Well, about some of the walks she's done, but also in general about how walking can benefit both your physical and mental health. It's simple and it's free, but it can have such a huge affect on your wellbeing that Niamh wants everyone to get their trainers on and regularly get outside!

If you'd like to follow Niamh on social media, search for "Walk Your Way Well" on Facebook and Instagram.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

On the last Monday of every month, Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free.

In this episode, Charlie and Joey talk about alcohol and its affect on mental health. This is an area that they're both incredibly passionate about, and one that they believe isn't discussed enough in society. The episode starts with some research that Charlie has done in to the topic, talking about the link between mental health issues like anxiety and depression and alcohol.

They both also share incredibly personal experiences about their own mental health struggles, and please be warned that this episode does contain a discussion about suicidal thoughts - so if you'd prefer to skip this one we completely understand, the most important thing is that you look after yourself.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Andy Delderfield, who's recently completed an ice ultra marathon in Sweden!

We're Sharon and Ben, two normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Sharon has known Andy for a long time, and has seen him completely change both physically and mentally since his early days of sobriety. Andy talks about being an ex-pat in Spain and how for a long time he didn't realise how dark his drinking had become - he uses the analogy of climbing outside the jar, and how you can only see what's inside once you're out of it.

Andy has done some amazing things since going alcohol free, running marathons across the globe (as soon as restrictions allowed him to) and of course, completing an epic ultra marathon in freezing cold Scandinavian temperatures! In this conversation we dig in to his motivation for tackling such incredible feats, and how it feels when he's out there... Could he ever have achieved what he has done if he hadn't given up alcohol?

You can find out more about Andy and links to his social media profiles at alcoholfreecoaching.com - and we thank Andy for being such a fabulous guest!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Miles Bingham, aka The Sober Trekker!

We're Sharon and Ben, two normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Miles gave up alcohol over 7 years ago and has since travelled the world to do what he loves - trekking in Iceland, Nepal and Patagonia, to name just a few! He talks to us about what his lifestyle was like before deciding to give up alcohol as a busy advertising executive, and how he now finds more happiness in the outdoors than he ever did through drugs and alcohol.

Miles talks about "type 2 happiness" towards the end of our conversation - and the differences between the synthetic happiness that alcohol brings in comparison to the long-lasting happiness that comes from putting the effort in to achieving something worthwhile. Miles packs this conversation full of little nuggets of gold like this, and we thank him for his openness, his honesty, and his enthusiasm for life without booze!

Follow Miles on Instagram - @thesobertrekker

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

Just over two years ago, we gathered around a kitchen table in Liverpool to talk about an idea for a new alcohol-free podcast. It would be called Over The Influence, and it had one mission: to sing about the joys of sobriety, in the hope that it would encourage people to give alcohol-free life a try.

The world was changing and people were giving up alcohol for all sorts of reasons: to enjoy better physical and mental health, to gain the clarity they needed to push for that promotion that had always eluded them, to have time to take up that hobby they'd been meaning to start for ages... We knew it was an outdated notion that the only people who gave up alcohol were people who'd run in to trouble with it, and we wanted to share our positive experiences of giving up the booze for good.

Well, two years later and the podcast has been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times and our online community is buzzing with listeners who want to connect with each other to support each other on their alcohol-free journeys.

It's been a fabulous two years, but also a couple of years of huge change for us personally - a big change being when Freddie decided to move out to New Zealand to start a wonderful new life with his young family. Initially the Bennett's were only going for a year, but now they've hit that milestone they've decided they'll be out there for longer... Which has led Freddie to make a big decision.

In this episode, Freddie talks about why he's decided to leave Over The Influence and about what his plans are next. We (Sharon and Ben) completely support him and wish him all of the luck in the world moving forwards - Freddie, your plans are fabulous and we can't wait to see you make a huge success of them as we know you undoubtedly will!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

On the last Monday of every month for the rest of this year, Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free.

In this episode, Charlie and Joey talk about a survey they did at Sober Soc, the sober society at Liverpool University that Charlie set up, to ask the other members their reasons for giving up alcohol.

Our hope is that Charlie and Joey's stories show other young people that you don't have to drink just because everyone else is doing it, and that you don't have to wait to give up alcohol.

So, if you've got a young person in your life who's thinking about their relationship with alcohol, we'd love you to share this episode with them!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Harrison Ward, aka The Fell Foodie!

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Harrison gave up alcohol six years ago, after he realised that it had gone from, in his words, "a medicine to a poison". He talks to us really openly and honestly about his struggles with depression and how for a while he thought that alcohol helped him to escape these feelings - before it took a hold and he was drinking up to twenty pints every day.

Harrison talks to us about his early days of sobriety, and the support that people gave him. After moving back to Cumbria, he posted about his struggles on his personal Facebook page, and his friends rallied around to support him on his new journey. One of them bought him a pair of walking boots and dragged him up one of the fells in the Lake District - and in doing so, started Harrison off on a whole new chapter of his life.

As the Fell Foodie, Harrison does all sorts of crazy and wonderful things on the side of fells with food - he's cooked a lasagna on a mountain side, and even baked a cake! His passion for both food and the outdoors are both things that he never would have found had it not been for giving up alcohol - and we can't wait to see what Harrison cooks up next!

Follow Harrison on Instagram - @fellfoodie

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

We're delighted to have a member of our OTI Community on the pod again this week, and it's the wonderful Annie Knowles! Annie is a NHS Healthcare worker and IPHM Sobriety Coach who, just like us, is singing about the joys of sobriety. 

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, the stress of working in hospitals led to Annie drinking more. The realisation that her drinking was slipping into dependency was the start of her kicking alcohol out of her life for good. 

She's now using her sober powers for good, championing the Bluelight scheme within the NHS, as well as using her platform as the Sober Rainbow Rider to offer help to others out there who may be struggling with alcohol dependency.

If you would like more info about Annie, you can follow her on Instagram @af_rainbowrider or go to soberrainbowrider.com.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

---

Links:

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

In this episode we chat to Ann Gash, a woman from Anglesey who has found the confidence to change her life in incredible ways.

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Ann talks to us about the phone call that changed her life, a call that shocked her in to taking action - and how a normal trip to the supermarket was the catalyst she needed to start.

Ann is now a regular face at Spartan events across the country, and is constantly pushing herself out of her comfort zone. When she's at the start line, she knows she's going to finish: it's the getting there that still presents its challenges.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to stand up comedian, Russell Hicks, who's been sober for 13 years!

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Russell talks about how his love for stand up helped him to give up alcohol in his 20s, because he wanted to be the best that he could be and knew he couldn't be that with a drink in his hand.

He also talks a lot about confidence, which applies to every single person who goes alcohol free - how do you confidently hold your own, when people start quizzing you?

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

This is the first episode of our new takeover series, where Charlie Martina and Joey Duckworth tell us what it's like to be young and sober in modern society.

Both Charlie and Joey decided to ditch booze in their early 20s, and in this episode they talk about what the drinking environment is like for young people today...

Do they face the same pressures to drink that shaped so many older drinkers?

Is there a change in the way young people view alcohol?

Do quit lit books, podcasts and visible role models on Instagram make a difference?

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to the fabulous Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind!

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Annie's first book, This Naked Mind, is one of the first books that most people go to when they're thinking about changing their relationship with alcohol. In this conversation she tells us about how the book went from a personal project to a self-published work, and then how it went on to become a global phenomenon with nearly one million copies sold.

Annie talks about her philosophy when it comes to giving up drinking, and how taking away the desire for alcohol through her research meant that she was no longer tempted by it. She also talks about society as a whole and how many things still need to change - but how also, we all have the power to have an impact as individuals.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Susan McGarry, one of our fabulous OTI Community members! Susan has completely transformed her life in the last couple of years... She's been on a weight loss journey, she's packed in the cigarettes, and of course, she's removed alcohol from her life too.

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

In this conversation Susan is warm, she's honest and she's humble. She is an ordinary woman who decided to do something extraordinary, and we know that her story will inspire so many others. We called this episode "The Believer" because of something Susan says about reading quit lit and listening to podcasts in the early days of her sobriety: she didn't feel the benefits of giving up alcohol straight away and had to put her faith in people like us that it was a worthwhile thing to do, and that if she kept on going, the benefits would come.

Susan says herself that she isn't there yet, but it's her openness to continually learn and develop as a person that means she will absolutely reach every goal that she sets for herself. She is a hugely valued member of our community, and we feel honoured that she accepted our invitation to come on and share her story with our thousands of listeners across the globe.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

Welcome to the OTI Young & Sober Takeover!

This episode is the start of something new for us... You will have heard from Charlie Martina before as she's appeared on a couple of episodes of Over The Influence, but this is the first time you're meeting the fabulous Joey Duckworth!

We say the first time because for the rest of this year, Charlie and Joey will be taking over Over The Influence every last Monday of the month in their "Young & Sober" series!

We know that thousands of people across the world download our podcast every week, and we want to give Charlie and Joey our platform to speak directly to younger people who want to change their relationship with alcohol.

As they discuss in this conversation (and as we've talked about many times before in other episodes of this podcast), knowing that you're not alone and that other people like you are looking at their relationship with alcohol can be hugely helpful, so we are delighted to give Charlie and Joey this opportunity to share their stories in the hope that it inspires other young people to do the same thing.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Sarah Hepola, the author of a book that helped all three of us in the early days of our sobriety, Blackout: Remembering The Things I Drank To Forget.

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Our conversation with Sarah is as honest as her book is - we talk about her experience of blackouts, but also blackouts in general and how society often jokes about them to cover up more painful emotions.

Sarah is also incredibly honest about the early days of her alcohol free journey, because in many ways she didn't want to be sober and mourned her drinking days. She started writing Blackout when she was six months sober, as a way of keeping her motivated in her sobriety - but it wasn't long before sobriety itself, rather than the success that came with it, became the thing she cherished the most.

To find out more about Sarah, find her on Instagram (@thesarahhepolaexperience) or on Twitter (@sarahhepola) - and don't forget to listen to her fabulous new podcast, America's Girls!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Sammy Hall, the wonderful founder of Sober Circle!

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Sober Circle started because Sammy wanted to find friends who were sober in her area. She was lucky to find her three sober best friends through Instagram, and wanted to help other people do the same thing. In this conversation she talks to us about how Sober Circle grew organically as a way of helping people to connect, and it's a lovely genuine story of someone who wants to spread positivity and joy.

Sammy also talks to us about a connection she made through the dating app Tinder... She swiped right on a sober gentleman, they went for a lockdown date in the park, and now Sammy is pregnant with their first baby, due in June! The gentleman in question is the fabulous Stuart Cook who featured as a guest on the podcast in November, and we are absolutely over the moon for them.

To find out more about Sammy and Sober Circle, have a look at her page on Instagram - @sober_circle.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Chris Anthony, otherwise known as The Sober Exec!

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

Chris has been sober for over 16 years, but spent 15 of those years feeling ashamed about his sobriety - why couldn't he drink like everyone else? It was through his work that he had a moment that changed his whole perspective on it, when a former Navy Seal gave him their thoughts on a huge milestone - oh, and Metallica obviously played their part too!

Chris is now inspiring thousands of other people every day through his Instagram page - search for @TheSoberExec to see some of his favourite quotes about both sobriety but also life in general!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

This is our first episode of 2022, and we're absolutely delighted to be back!

We cannot wait to get chatting to our fabulous list of guests for this year - but before we do, we had a question from Jodie on Instagram on the 1st January who found Over The Influence because of our Dry January Special episode.

She asked us which guest pod she should go back and listen to first, if we could just pick one... So we've spent an episode answering that question, looking back before we look ahead!

We talk about which episodes resonated with us, and if you've been a listener for a while, we hope it gives you some good guidance on episodes to go and re-listen to - we really have been so lucky to speak to some incredible people.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

Sharon is back recording pods following her surgery so her and Ben are catching up to see what she's missed.

Welcome back Shaz!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

---

Links:

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

This is our Dry January Special 2022, and we were delighted to be joined by Dr Richard Piper, the CEO of Alcohol Change UK, and OTI Community Member Danielle Cooper, who used Dry January as a way to kickstart her own alcohol-free journey.

We talk about what Dry January is, why you should give it a go if you're sober curious, and what affect doing Dry January can have on your overall drinking habits for the rest of the year.

Of course, the word connection comes up a lot in this chat!

We think that 100 days is the magic number when it comes to giving sobriety a go - hitting triple figures is a great milestone, and it's enough of a break so that you can really start feeling the benefits of alcohol-free life.

For those who want to give Dry January a go, but already have in their heads that they may want to carry on to hit the 100 days, we've got some special Zoom groups as part of our community for the first 3 and a bit months of next year.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

This episode is a special one... We've been so lucky to talk to some incredible people this year on Over The Influence, and because it's Christmas we asked some of our favourite guests to send us a voice note with their top tips for enjoying an alcohol-free Christmas.

Because that really is so important when it comes to an AF Christmas... It's not about surviving it, it's about enjoying every moment of it.

We'd like to say a massive thank you to Clare Pooley, William Porter, Sober Dave, Susan Laurie, Dean McCullough, Craig Beck, Andy Ramage, Jenny Valentish, George Anderson, Abi Feltham, Delroy Bunny Pacer Taylor & Dawn Comolly, aka The Sober Fish, for their wonderful contributions.

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti 

In this episode we chat to Charlie Martina, the sober student who's only the second person to have a second Over The Influence episode!

We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!

We chat to Charlie about her latest project, Sober Soc! Charlie went alcohol-free nearly a year ago, and when she knew she was going back to university to do her Masters Degree, she was a bit nervous... How would she get on as a sober student, when alcohol is so ingrained in to student culture?

As the President of Sober Society at her Students' Union, she is now spreading the message that it's OK to be alcohol-free or sober curious at university, even though it isn't the "normal" thing to do.

Charlie is our Blog Curator at Over The Influence, and is doing a fantastic job of bringing together short bursts of sober written content from listener stories to columns (go and have a look at it here!) She also gives us an update on the book that she's been writing about being young and sober, and there's some very bloomin' exciting developments!

---

Get In Touch:

Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook.

We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk

---

The Premium Podcast:

If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now!

Released every Monday and exclusive to subscribers and OTI Community members, the Premium Pod is Sharon and Ben talking through even more topics surrounding alcohol-free life, from how to not just survive but enjoy AF holidays to alcohol free dating!

Subscribe now! Released every Monday, cancel any time - just £5 per month.

---

Links:

Over The Influence is produced by Ben Anderson for Sound Rebel.

Sound Rebel works with businesses, brands, charities & other organisations across the UK - go to soundrebel.co.uk now to find out how podcasts could help you to tell your story to the world.

If you feel as if connection with likeminded people would help as you try life without alcohol, join the Over The Influence Community now - and we can't wait to meet you!

For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website.

---

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice.

---

Helpful Hashtags:

We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! 

These are some of the hashtags we've followed:

#alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti