The Big Drink Rethink is a podcast for anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol - whether you want to quit, drink less, take a break, or just explore the role alcohol plays in your life.
Hosted by Alcohol Mindset Coach and Author, Anna Donaghey, each episode blends lived experience, psychological insight, and powerful tools to help you create change - gently, intelligently, without pressure, and in a way that opens up your life.
Featuring expert guests, real stories, and practical strategies, this podcast offers a refreshingly smart, non-judgemental space to reflect, grow, and explore the life you want.
Because rethinking your drinking isn’t about missing out. It’s about tuning in.
It’s not about restriction - it’s about making space.
To feel clearer, live more fully, and ask one honest question:
What are you really thirsty for?
Site
RSS
Apple
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Ep 33: Alcohol Advertising: It's Time for a Rethink
Episode 33
Thursday, August 29, 2024 • Duration 32:26
Anna unravels the calculated persuasion behind glossy alcohol ads and their seductive campaigns, exposing how they obscure the true realities of alcohol's impact on our lives. In this compelling solo episode of The Big Drink Rethink Anna talks from the heart. With her 25 years of experience in the advertising world, she examines the insidious world of alcohol advertising with passion, knowledge and unflinching honesty. With nearly £1 billion spent annually in the UK alone to promote these beverages, she questions whether what's being sold is more than just a drink - but a dangerous misconception. Join Anna as she pulls back the curtain on the tactics, the consequences, and the undeniable need for a rethink on how alcohol is marketed to the masses.
Here are the highlights:
02:08 Challenging advertising, beliefs, and conditioning in alcohol.
08:29 Alcohol marketing's significant global economic impact.
13:16 Encouraging drinking through strategic marketing.
16:13 What are brands really trying to sell?
19:05 Increasing sales by targeting demographics.
27:00 A need for tougher alcohol marketing regulations.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Ep 32: Toolkit '101' - Principles For a Successful Alcohol-Free Break
Episode 32
Thursday, August 22, 2024 • Duration 25:11
Imagine taking a break from alcohol that's not just a pause, but a transformative experience. In this episode, your host Anna, is exploring how you can make the most of any alcohol-free break. She is also sharing the fundamental principles behind her self-guided programme, sharing how taking a break from the book can be a productive, insightful, and even life-changing journey. So, let's get started!
Here are the highlights:
04:48 Discover the benefits of a month without alcohol.
08:46 Embrace the booze elevator, forget false labels.
12:38 Embrace circumstances, ditch blame, and willpower.
15:28 Willpower isn't enough for long-term behaviour change.
20:05 Curiosity allows for questioning, learning, and growth.
20:55 Shift from loss mindset to gain mindset.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener
Ep 23: Toolkit '101': Measuring Your Personal Happiness | Alcohol Toolkit |
Episode 23
Thursday, June 20, 2024 • Duration 36:37
Your host, Anna, explores happiness and its intricate relationship with alcohol consumption. Drawing inspiration from the pioneering work of psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, Anna introduces a straightforward but brilliant tool, designed to give listeners a unique and quantitative measure of their own personal happiness.
Anna guides listeners through an enlightening and reflective exercise, involving the creation of a two-column chart to evaluate how alcohol contributes to or detracts from ten core emotions. By scoring these emotions on a scale of one to ten and noting alcohol's role, listeners can gain a clear and objective understanding of how alcohol influences their emotional well-being.
Tune in to this must-listen episode as Anna challenges the conventional belief that happiness is heavily reliant on external factors like alcohol.
Here are the highlights:
05:40 Alcohol is often linked to happiness, we are conditioned by society.
09:35 Childhood innocence is lost as alcohol dominates adulthood.
13:35 Pursuing euphoria through alcohol, leads to numbness.
14:26 Alcohol can initially bring happiness, then sadness.
18:29 Seeking alcohol for happiness can lead to negativity.
22:39 Assessing alcohol's impact on emotions and happiness.
32:49 Feeling awe and wonder, and understanding the importance of love.
35:29 Check out the exercise on the website and get your discount.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link:
Ep 22: Overcoming Addiction and Redefining Masculinity with Alex Clapp | Rethinking Alcohol |
Episode 22
Thursday, June 13, 2024 • Duration 48:30
Anna Donaghey sits down with Alex Clapp, an entrepreneur and advocate for sober socialising. In this episode, you're invited to journey through Alex's personal battle with alcohol addiction and his quest to challenge societal norms surrounding masculinity and emotional vulnerability.
You’ll hear Alex’s story unfold, from growing up in an environment where showing emotion was seen as a weakness, to experiencing significant health challenges that turned his life upside down and forced him to confront his feelings.
Join Anna and Alex as they delve into changing stereotypes, the issues created by emotional suppression, the power of genuine connections, and the concept of sober social events that Alex champions through his business.
Here are the highlights:
01:55 Upbringing in an era of emotional suppression and expectations.
04:06 Built relationships around the drink culture, and it had an impact.
06:37 Hiding true feelings, using alcohol for coping.
12:30 Rehab success rates are often low.
13:43 Personal work leads to a better world.
21:10 Traditional masculinity stereotypes can harm men.
27:50 Shared vulnerability is the truest courage.
32:42 Struggled to be vulnerable, lacking emotional intelligence.
42:13 Discover genuine connections, like being a child.
45:23 Striving for global growth, learning patience.
46:49 Support long-term change and empower individuals' choices.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Ep 21: Key Drivers of Happiness and the Influence of Alcohol
Episode 21
Thursday, June 6, 2024 • Duration 50:02
Anna Donaghey sits down with Matt Phelan, co-founder of The Happiness Index, to explore what makes us happy and the profound effects of alcohol on personal well-being, safety and relationships.
They challenge the notion of alcohol as a social adhesive, advocating instead for genuine friendships that thrive beyond the presence of a drink. Together, they examine the importance of psychological safety, not only in the workplace but in all aspects of life, and how alcohol can hinder our abilities to meet basic human needs.
Don't miss this enlightening conversation that promises to reshape how you view alcohol, happiness, and the strength of your social connections. Tune in as Anna and Matt share their journeys of self-discovery and the ongoing benefits of living an alcohol-free life.
Here are the highlights:
05:09 Neuroscience and psychology influence happiness research widely.
09:21 Essential human needs endure through the ages.
11:40 Alcohol's impact on psychological safety and relationships.
16:01 Self-worth influences drinking habits and recovery.
19:36 Balanced view on alcohol and regrets.
20:41 Regret, self-belief, and the pursuit of happiness.
27:35 Alcohol is a poison and happiness from drinking is temporary.
33:13 Learn from getting drunk after a long sobriety.
33:57 Matt talks about his LinkedIn article re. his journey, happiness and sobriety pros & cons.
41:06 Employee happiness and alcohol article feedback.
43:56 LinkedIn connections show genuine interest and empathy.
47:26 Friendship based on alcohol isn't genuine; explore new genuine friendships.
Ep 20: Toolkit '101': Mindful Mastery: The Science & the Know-how | Alcohol Toolkit |
Episode 20
Thursday, May 30, 2024 • Duration 27:07
In this episode of Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey dives into the world of mindful mastery, exploring the science and know-how behind cultivating self-awareness and emotional literacy to rethink drinking habits. Through personal stories from guests Nick Elston and Sam Williams in previous episodes, Anna emphasises the role of alcohol as a coping mechanism and the importance of understanding one's emotions. She introduces mindfulness and meditation as powerful tools to strengthen the brain, enhance self-control, and promote emotional well-being. Join Anna as she shares practical tips on incorporating mindfulness practices into daily life, offering a fresh perspective on how these techniques can positively impact our relationship with alcohol and ourselves.
12:39 Meditation improves attention, self-control, and brain function.
16:02 Power of Now advocates mindfulness for peace.
19:33 Label thoughts, focus on breathing, and find peace.
23:03 Accept and label your thoughts for self-improvement.
26:11 Attend mindfulness event in Liverpool on June 12.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:
Ep 19: Alcohol-Free Peace: Self-Love, ADHD & Perimenopause
Episode 19
Thursday, May 23, 2024 • Duration 48:35
Welcome back to the Big Drink Rethink podcast, where our host Anna Donaghey is chatting with the incredibly inspiring Sam Williams. Sam, a Certified Specialist ADHD Coach and Menopause Coach, shares her journey of self-discovery and transformation after giving up alcohol. She describes her drinking habits during lockdown, the social aspect of drinking, and how alcohol helped quiet her mind. Sam's decision to stop drinking was driven by a desire to know who she was without alcohol, and to set a positive example for her children.
Through self-reflection and forgiveness practices, she developed a deeper understanding of her body and mind, allowing the penny to drop about her ADHD and its connection to perimenopause. Sam discusses the intersection of ADHD and her relationship with alcohol, with it serving as a coping mechanism to quiet her mind and mask her struggles. Sam also explores the impact of alcohol on her hormonal balance and how it exacerbated her perimenopause symptoms. Through her journey of sobriety, Sam discovered self-acceptance, self-love, and the power of listening to her body. She emphasises the importance of awareness, understanding, and community support in navigating ADHD and finding alignment with one's true self.
Here are the Highlights:
05:22 Drinking levelled the playing field, quieted thoughts.
07:10 Weekends involved plenty of drinks and munchies.
13:44 Embracing change and letting go for growth.
16:35 Therapy transformed me and continues to today.
22:37 Lack of research on women's hormonal health.
24:16 Masking coping strategy revealed health issues from drinking.
26:55 Menopause symptoms are misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression.
32:12 Adrenal system shifts, leading to hormonal imbalance.
33:45 Inherent efficiency, unravelling work, and authentic curiosity.
36:44 Similar human experiences, lessons, and blessings acknowledged.
Ep 18: Beyond the Bottle: Nick Elston on Mental Health | Rethinking Alcohol |
Episode 18
Thursday, May 16, 2024 • Duration 52:27
Welcome to another episode of The Big Drink Rethink, where your host, Anna Donaghey, is thrilled to bring you an enlightening conversation with mental health advocate Nick Elston.
An inspirational speaker on mental health, Nick shares his own lived experience of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalised anxiety disorder. He believes that our adversities can either define us negatively or forge something beautiful and powerful. Giving up alcohol six years ago proved to be a release, as he discovered that he had been using it as a crutch. In this conversation, Nick and Anna discuss the power of vulnerability, the importance of self-reflection, and finding joy and peace of mind without relying on external substances. They explore the impact of social media on comparison and the need to run our own race. They also touch on breaking the stigma around alcohol and mental health through open conversations and lived experiences.
Whether you're reassessing your own drinking habits or seeking encouragement on an alcohol-free path, this episode promises to offer valuable perspectives on the impact of alcohol on our mental wellbeing.
Here are the Highlights:
06:00 Losing hope can lead to positive change.
07:33 Chaos brings opportunities. Attitude is everything.
12:25 Obsessive tendencies became crutch.
13:37 Struggled with heavy drinking, guilt, anxiety, and secrecy.
26:06 Sharing lived experiences, signposting to solutions, and showing vulnerability.
28:25 Seeking therapy helped me navigate challenges effectively.
36:14 Embracing emotions is a lovely, therapeutic thing.
41:26 Managing emotions without external means
45:09 Social media distorts reality and fuels comparison.
49:30 Cultural shift toward open conversations in organisations.
Ep 17: Toolkit '101': Overcoming the Fear of Change | Alcohol Coaching |
Episode 17
Thursday, May 9, 2024 • Duration 29:37
In today’s toolkit episode, Overcoming the Fear of Change, your host Anna Donaghey invites you to start a transformative journey towards a healthier, alcohol-free future. She discusses how changing your ‘drinker’ identity can be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. Anna also talks about adopting an experimental mindset and focusing on the gains of sobriety rather than the perceived losses. She encourages listeners to make a list of the characteristics they want to change and the person they want to become. Anna concludes with a powerful exercise that helps visualise the potential future one, three and then ten years from now, encouraging listeners to weigh up the outcomes of continuing to drink versus committing to change.
Embrace this opportunity to challenge your assumptions about drinking and uncover what truly lies on the other side of change.
Here are the Highlights:
04:03 Your personal identity can evolve, embrace new opportunities.
07:16 Embrace change with a curious and open mind.
11:15 Resisting change focuses on perceived losses. Motivation is needed.
16:23 Embrace fear and take action for growth.
21:12 Visualisation exercise.
22:45 You are committing to a transformative process.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment:
Ep 16: When Drinking is part of your Identity with Sober Dave | Rethinking Alcohol |
Episode 16
Thursday, May 2, 2024 • Duration 57:24
Welcome back to "The Big Drink Rethink," where we challenge popular notions about alcohol and explore how our drinking culture is changing and evolving. In this episode, your host, Anna Donaghey, is joined by David Wilson, also known as Sober Dave, who brings an incredible story of personal transformation from a life overshadowed by alcohol to one filled with new beginnings and self-discovery.
Today, David shares the pivotal moments that led him to question his relationship with drinking and how saying "I don't drink" became the cornerstone of his new identity. From battling societal pressures to redefining his self-worth, David's journey is not just inspiring but a testament to the power of change at any age.
Tune in to hear their honest discussion about the fear, excitement, and challenges of leaving old habits behind and embracing a life of sobriety. Whether you're considering a similar path or just sober curious, this episode sheds light on the transformative impact of rethinking one’s relationship with alcohol.
Here are the Highlights:
04:52 At a young age alcohol ‘gave me wings’ and transformed me.
06:23 Called alcoholic after excessive pub visits
11:28 Realised a need for change and accepted help from a friend.
15:34 Moving to a rough area changed me.
16:27 Confident, reliable man with a funny persona.
20:12 Identity tied to drinking, fear of change.
25:23 Reflecting on change and redefining personal narratives.
30:49 Alcohol use increased during lockdown, raises concern.
35:32 Focus on positive change, try it out.
37:54 Morning bike sessions fostered positive lifestyle changes.
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Alex Clapp has owned multiple businesses in the North West including his flagship firm, County Cost Consultant for 23 years. Earlier this year, Alex co-founded Claritee, a corporate wellness company comprising no alcohol corporate events, bespoke corporate training and the recent establishment of a CIO department.
Claritee was born from Alex’s struggle with addiction as a result of a deteriorating eye condition that developed in 2015. With no confirmed diagnosis, Alex resorted to alcohol to cope with his mental health, covering up to family, friends and peers about his affliction. Thankfully, after seeking help, Alex attended multiple rehabilitation centres and has been sober for 9 months.
Through his own plight, Alex endeavoured to help others in a similar situation; individuals in the corporate sphere who may be struggling to admit vulnerabilities. Claritee’s mission is to provide services which encourage individuals to prioritise their wellbeing and instill practices to maintain positive mindsets.
Claritee’s second dry corporate event titled Be The Spirit takes place in Manchester at The Lowry Hotel on the 7th September. Open to all working industries, guests are invited to join the Claritee team for a revolutionary concept brought to the corporate social and networking market.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Matt Phelan is a Co-Founder of the Happiness Index. In his day-to-day role, he's responsible for the strategic direction of the business.
Matt is the founder of The Happiness and Humans Community, host of The Happiness and Humans Podcast and author of Freedom To Be Happy: The Business Case for Happiness & The Happiness Index: “Why Today's Employee Emotions Equal Tomorrow's Business Success". Matt recently completed a TEDx talk where he presented 12 million data points on happiness from 1 million human beings in 100+ countries in less than 15 minutes.
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
40:01 Finding peace led to self-compassion and love.
46:27 Understanding ourselves and finding support is crucial.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Sam is the founder of Seed Spark – A human-centred change consultancy and coaching practice with a strong Corporate Social Responsibility ethic; making change happen one meaningful conversation at a time. She is a certified specialist ADHD Coach, Menopause Coach, Prosci Change Practitioner and Chartered Engineer.
She describes herself as an ‘edge-seeking Boundary Spanner, Mesearcher and Empathic Provocateur’.
While her unfinished book ‘Who the fuck am I? And how did I get here? may never see print – the mesearch uncovered during her midlife misadventures through perimenopause with late diagnosis ADHD, are passionately passed on to her community through her coaching, training and outreach work.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Nick Elston is one of the highest-profile and leading Inspirational Speakers on the Lived Experience of Mental Health.
Described as a ‘BIG man, BIG heart, BIG story & BRUTAL honesty!’, ‘Utterly inspirational, absolutely engaging!’ and ’10/10 –a Speaking Masterclass!’ – Nick shares his experiences of Mental Illness, Mental Ill-Health & Breakdown worldwide –through his powerful, inspiring, engaging & emotional insights.
Nick is regularly featured in the global media, the BBC, industry shows and publications – his talks are delivered to stages, events, boardrooms, businesses, factories, government organisations, schools, universities, prisons & establishments worldwide.
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
48:37 Approach with excitement, and stick to your truth.
49:50 Continuous personal growth is possible at any age.
🔗 Get all the free resources from the series at: Toolkit Optin
Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Transforming his life in January 2019, David Wilson, Certified Grey Area Drinking Coach and Public Speaker, is dedicated to motivating others to transform their lives, overcome personal challenges and embrace life with a renewed mindset. Using his unique delivery and no nonsense approach, Dave is both personable and relatable.
Dave has spoken in schools and colleges raising awareness of the impact and harm of the excessive use of alcohol for both individuals and family members.
His Top 10 Apple Podcast 'One For The Road' reaches a global audience with over 300K downloads in the first year. Dave's rich and varied guest list includes RTT founder Marisa Peer, SAS Who Dares Wins Ollie Ollerton and author of 'The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober' Catherine Gray.
Dave is a No.1 Bestselling Author with his debut book, also titled 'One For The Road' - a blend of his personal memoir, coaching techniques and offers motivational tips to help the reader change their relationship with alcohol.
Dave's established Instagram account @soberdave has a loyal and engaged following of over 118K, where he delivers regular live interviews with guests from the sober community all over the world. And his annual #DryJanSoberdave initiative has helped thousands of people.
Dave is currently training to be a Trauma Informed Coach, to support people to understand the role of past trauma in their relationship with alcohol.
Related Shows Based on Content Similarities
Discover shows related to The Big Drink Rethink, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
