Advertise on podcast: The Big Drink Rethink

What if change doesn’t start with a dramatic rock bottom or a grand decision, but with the tiniest flickers of awareness? In this reflective episode, Anna Donaghey shines a light on those often-overlooked “tiny clarity moments”, the split seconds when you see your drinking, and your habits, with fresh honesty. Anna shares personal stories and insights from her work as an alcohol mindset coach, exploring how real transformation rarely starts with ultimatums or huge declarations. Instead, it begins with small, honest realisations. Noticing when a drink isn’t actually enjoyable, seeing the mismatch between the promise and reality of alcohol, or catching yourself pouring a glass before you've even decided if you want it. This episode is for anyone who’s wondered even briefly about their drinking. If you’ve been waiting for a dramatic sign or a clear plan, this is your permission to start smaller. Sometimes all it takes is noticing what’s already there. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Welcome back to The Big Drink Rethink 00:40 What are “Tiny Clarity Moments”? 01:38 Why big changes often start with small, quiet recognitions 02:16 How overlooked thoughts are actually the seeds of awareness 03:12 Examples from Anna’s own journey 04:27 Catching the gap between self-stories and reality 05:17 Let moments percolate, don’t force change 07:12 Understanding your drinking triggers 10:06 Why you don’t need rules, labels, or willpower 11:19 The discomfort of awareness 12:07 Prompts to gently explore your own tiny clarity moments 13:35 Introducing the Thirsty Ffor More Mindset Lab 14:32 Let small things be noticed, because that’s where change begins. Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy! Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/ The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/ If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn:a href="http://linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey" rel="noopener...

Is it possible that drinking isn’t really the problem or at least, not the whole story? In this episode, Anna asks you to rethink your relationship with alcohol by shifting the focus away from simply how much or how often you drink, to what deeper needs might be driving the habit in the first place. Anna explores why we treat alcohol as the main issue, and how it’s often just the “smoke, not the fire.” Instead of fixating on willpower or self-control, she dives into the real desires beneath drinking: rest, relief, connection, pleasure, escape. You'll learn how putting alcohol in context, and being gently curious about your own needs rather than harshly judging yourself can open up new possibilities for change. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Welcome to The Big Drink Rethink 01:13 What if drinking isn’t actually the issue? 01:41 Drinking is often the visible symptom, not the deeper cause 02:18 Ask: “What am I actually thirsty for?” 02:53 Meeting your real needs weakens drinking’s grip 03:39 Alcohol shows up inside busy, pressured, complex lives 04:03 What role has alcohol been playing for you? 04:15 Reframing drinking as a response, not a moral failing 04:46 Calm, informed choices are possible when alcohol is explained 05:11 A new question: “What would actually support me here?” 06:01 Shifting from control to care, from shame to curiosity 06:38 Change happens gradually, not with a dramatic declaration 06:57 If something feels off, you don’t need to have a plan yet 07:36 Staying curious, not judgmental 08:21 Your feedback drives future episodes! Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy! Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/ The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/ If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram:a...

Have you ever wondered why even after a few alcohol-free weeks, life can feel flat or why it feels so hard to say “enough” in a world of endless overconsumption? In this transformative episode of The Big Drink Rethink, Anna Donaghey sits down with Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist, author of Dopamine Nation, and Stanford Addiction Medicine Director, to explore how alcohol hijacks our reward system and what it really takes to rediscover joy and meaning, beyond the next drink. Dr. Lembke explains why life can feel “meh” after quitting drinking and how the brain slowly recalibrates, making real satisfaction possible again. This episode is a gentle yet powerful guide for anyone seeking answers about our brain’s quest for ‘more’. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Looking at compulsive over consumption in a dopamine loaded world 05:52 ‘The drug of choice’ and dopamine 08:34 Modern life pushes a ‘hijacked brain’ to crave intense stimuli 10:53 Addiction shifts the brain's balance 14:41 After 4 weeks alcohol-free, 80% no longer had major depression. 18:28 Micro stressors like cold exposure boost feel-good neurotransmitters 21:12 Pleasure-pain balance drives homeostasis 25:46 Modern boredom and addiction 29:22 The lizard brain and modern pleasure 31:59 Many people associate alcohol with relaxation and happiness 36:38 Dopamine, exercise and brain ‘tricks’ 44:03 True joy comes from connection, curiosity, and enoughness. Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy! Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/ The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/ If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: a href="http://instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink" rel="noopener

Ever caught yourself wondering, “Why is alcohol so hard to control for me?” In this episode Anna Donaghey urges you to challenge the story that the struggle is all your fault. Drawing from her experience as an alcohol mindset coach, author, and strategist, Anna examines why shame and blame are baked into how we talk about drinking and offers a totally different perspective. Instead of focusing on willpower, Anna explores how social expectations, stress, and our culture’s obsession with alcohol shapes your relationship with drinking. She invites you to shift from self-judgement to compassionate curiosity, uncovering what alcohol actually does for you, and how to move forward with genuine agency (not force). Listen now for fresh psychological insight, and actionable tools to gently reframe your habits and open new possibilities about rethinking the way you drink. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Welcome to The Big Drink Rethink Podcast 00:53 What if you're not the problem? 01:33 Our culture confuses responsibility with blame 02:23 The dominant narrative comes from Alcoholics Anonymous 05:41 Using alcohol to cope, switching off, easing anxiety, marking the end of the day doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human. 06:27 The real question isn’t “what’s wrong with me?” but “why is this the tool I’ve ended up relying on?” 07:01 Curiosity about what alcohol is doing for you shifts the conversation 07:23 The goal isn’t just to become a non-drinker, but someone who listens to themselves and designs a life they don’t want to escape from 08:23 Struggles with drinking aren’t your fault 09:50 Change begins with curiosity, and honesty 10:09 Rethinking drinking is about being awake in your own life. Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy! Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/ The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/ If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn:a...

This week is a big one for The Big Drink Rethink, with host Anna Donaghey, celebrating publication day and introducing her brand new, first book. "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy! In this special episode, Anna invites you to continue your reappraisal - not just of alcohol, but what it is you are really craving in life. Rather than pushing rules or labels, she offers practical, compassionate insights drawn from her own journey (and many honest stories from you, the listeners). At its heart, she invites you to ask a pivotal, different question. Not “Is my drinking bad enough?” but “Is my life good enough?” With warmth and zero preaching, Anna Donaghey welcomes anyone curious, cautious, or somewhere in the grey area, to explore what you really want from life, using gentle tools for awareness and self-discovery. Whether you’re seeking new possibilities, or just looking to understand what truly drives your drinking, tune in for an uplifting, honest conversation and don’t forget to grab the book, now available everywhere! Amazon: https://amzn.to/47agUn2Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/what-are-you-thirsty-for/anna-donaghey/9781915780607 Here are the highlights: 00:00 Intro: Anna’s new book - What Are You Thirsty For? is here! 01:07 If you’re in the “grey area” around alcohol, you’re not alone 02:14 How cultural stories about alcohol shape our habits 03:43 The book is flipping the script from “is my drinking bad enough?” to “is my life good enough?” 05:01 The shift from self-judgement to self-inquiry, insights from podcast guests 07:01 Awareness, not rules why most people live in the vast in-between 08:23 The “jobs” we hand to alcohol (and why it never truly delivers) 11:11 What changed for Anna 12:05 Who the book is really written for 14:22 Designing your life by choice, not out of habit, find a pathway back to yourself 15:31 This isn’t just about alcohol; it’s about the life you want. 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing...

Struggling to keep your momentum as the novelty of cutting back on drinking starts to wear off? You’re not alone. In this third mini episode, Anna Donaghey returns with five practical, pressure-free ideas to support you through January, especially when willpower is fading and real-life challenges kick in. Building on previous mindset shifts, Anna sidesteps perfection and “shoulds,” guiding you to focus on what you actually want from life (not just what you’re trying to avoid). She invites listeners to rethink their motivation, reframe inevitable wobbles as valuable learning moments, and gently plan supportive evenings that help you feel safe and soothed and not stressed. You’ll learn the ultimate nervous system hack (intentional breathing), why small rituals matter more than big gestures, and why celebrating tiny gains is the most powerful way to stay on track. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Welcome back to the mini series, for a new year kickstart 01:09 The novelty wears off, how to get real momentum in sober curiosity 01:31 Five simple, practical ideas, not willpower, but gentle support 01:49 Swap “not allowed” thinking for “is my life good enough right now?” 02:42 Motivation from desire, not discipline or fear 03:18 The pull towards a better life is stronger than willpower 04:39 Wobbles are normal, it takes time to learn new habits 07:12 Treat setbacks with curiosity, not moral judgment 07:34 Plan evenings lightly, enjoy tiny, soothing rituals 10:12 The incredible power of intentional breathing (box breathing) 13:39 Pay attention to what’s getting better 14:32 Pick one idea to shape your evening, even if it’s gentle and small 14:54 What if this month was about becoming someone you feel good being? 15:04 The journey continues with more episodes and resources. 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram:...

If you’re already feeling the challenge of cutting back on drinking this January, you’re not alone and you don’t have to rely on sheer willpower. In this second mini episode, Anna returns to share the essential (and surprisingly gentle) secret to handling cravings and breaking free from autopilot habits. Building on the previous episode’s mindset shifts, Anna introduces the idea of noticing urges without judgment, explains why most cravings are signals about what you truly need, and guides listeners through the powerful practice of “urge surfing.” This is not about perfection or passing a test. It’s about curiosity, self-kindness, and baby steps toward a better relationship with drinking. You’ll walk away with a practical tool you can use tonight, and the knowledge that real change starts with tiny moments of awareness. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 January is tough, and feeling mixed emotions is normal 01:03 Mindset recap: why big declarations don’t work 01:20 Day two focus: Noticing urges, and why old patterns creep in 02:20 Why drinking habits are automatic 02:45 What’s underneath the craving? 03:37 The “magic” of noticing 04:26 Tiny moments of awareness versus gritted teeth 04:28 Zero-pressure reflection practice 05:02 Change begins with curiosity, not control 05:31 Your only job tonight: Just notice 05:49 What if tonight was just something to observe? 07:19 The reality: Most urges peak and fade within minutes 08:07 The power of letting an urge pass and discovering what your mind/body really wants 08:57 An urge is not an order; you do not have to act on it 09:26 Free urge surfing resources available at https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/toolkit-optin Tune in tomorrow for the next episode, and keep rethinking your relationship with drinking one gentle step at a time. 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram:

Is Dry January on your mind, but you’re already feeling the weight of “new year, new me” expectations? In the first of this mini series, Anna welcomes the New Year with a gentle reality check for anyone considering a break from alcohol whether you’re looking to quit, cut down, or just get curious about your drinking habits. With compassion and clarity, she unpacks why pressure, grand declarations, and all-or-nothing thinking so often sabotages our best intentions in January. Instead, she offers a different way to embrace curiosity and exploration as you rethink your relationship with drinking. Anna invites you to notice your patterns, get honest about your hopes, and see “wobbles” as part of real, lasting change, not failure. Start the year with self-kindness, realistic strategies, and a plan that supports you, rather than scares you. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Why taking a break from drinking is brilliant anytime 00:40 The cultural pressure of New Year’s resolutions 02:14 “Challenge mode” and the trap of all-or-nothing thinking 06:12 Why wobbles are proof of learning and progress 07:45 How to make January an exploration, not a test 08:11 The real question: What are you hoping to feel in your life this year? 09:09 The first step: Start noticing your habits with kindness, not judgment 09:20 Permission to be a beginner, and simple ways to support yourself 10:01 Anna’s Alcohol Experiment and how to get real, daily support. 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Are you showing up for Christmas wanting change, but feeling swallowed up by old patterns, pressure, or the ever-present invitation to pour a drink? In this uplifting milestone episode of The Big Drink Rethink (100 episodes!), your host Anna Donaghey offers a heart-to-heart Christmas Day pep talk for anyone questioning their drinking, or simply craving a more honest and intentional holiday experience. Through lived experience and a coach’s insight, she gently unpacks why Christmas stirs up overwhelm, exhaustion, and even unexpected loneliness, alongside the pressure of old habits. She guides you back to your own intentions, with a practical, simple toolkit for resetting and choosing the version of you that feels truest even if you’re the only one who sees it right now. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Anna’s gratitude for every listener whether brand new or following since the beginning 00:31 Why Christmas is such a complicated mix of comfort and challenge 01:53 Today isn’t about perfection 02:17 You’re not the sum of your past Decembers 03:03 Experiment: What does Christmas feel like without alcohol? 03:52 How to navigate triggers: Pause, Check In, Choose. 05:21 You’re allowed to take up space in a different way 06:13 Gentle encouragement to hold your ground with clarity 06:39 Have a proud and present Christmas Day, plus where to find resources. 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Are your Christmas traditions serving you or just sabotaging your intentions for change? This time of year isn’t just about parties and presents, it’s a complex mix of family dynamics, old patterns, emotional triggers steeped in decades of drinking. In this powerful episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey takes a gentle yet practical approach to surviving (and actually enjoying) Christmas and New Year, especially if you’re rethinking your relationship with alcohol. Drawing on lived experience, psychology, and coaching tools, Anna unpacks why Christmas stirs up excitement, dread, and everything in between. She shares a step-by-step plan for protecting your peace, setting boundaries, dealing with triggers, and redefining who you want to be this season. Whether you’re aiming for your first alcohol-free Christmas or just want it to feel more intentional (and less chaotic), this episode puts clarity, self-kindness, and genuine joy at the heart of the festive season. Here are the Highlights: 00:41 Why Christmas stirs up mixed emotions and challenges 03:09 How old patterns and family roles shape festive drinking 06:32 The power of identity: Who do you want to be this Christmas? 09:46 Mel Robbins “let them” theory to deal with other people’s behaviour 11:10 Own your choices, and protect your peace 13:54 How environments trigger old habits 16:53 Staying rooted in your intentions 19:11 Planning for emotional flashpoints over the Christmas period 23:41 Visualisation worksheet: How to map out your big days 27:34 Dealing with New Year's Eve hype and midnight pressure 29:57 Why a “fresh” January is more important than a “perfect” December 32:11 Regulate your nervous system with breathwork & micro-resets 34:00 Moving through the season with clarity and pride 35:00 Anna’s Alcohol Experiment and extra support for Dry January 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram:a href="http://instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

What if the festive season could bring more connection, confidence, and genuine fun… without the dread (or the hangover)? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, your host Anna shares how to survive Christmas parties, whether you’re alcohol free, moderating, or just rethinking your relationship with drinking. Drawing on personal stories and practical coaching insight, Anna covers how Christmas parties often trigger reflex drinking and cultural pressures, and shares simple, powerful strategies to help you stay true to what you want from the season. From pre-party mindset resets to mastering your exit plan (hello, Irish Goodbye!). This episode is packed with real-life tools, gentle encouragement, and tips for waking up clear-headed, proud, and totally FOMO-free. Here are the Highlights: 00:41 Why Christmas parties stir up both excitement and anxiety 03:25 How cultural scripts and past habits hijack our choices 08:05 The three key questions to set your party intentions 11:25 Alcohol free versus moderation, how to pick your best path 12:50 Busting myths, you’re not the only one cutting down! 16:23 Pre-party grounding and creating “joy drinks” 22:05 Social pressure, responses, and the power of changing the subject 24:22 Finding your wingman and safe spaces 26:42 Micro check-ins: Don’t confuse boredom with wanting a drink 27:52 Planning your exit and mastering the Irish Goodbye 30:37 End of night rituals for real rewards Ready to rethink your Christmas party season? Tune in to get inspired, energised, and equipped for whatever December throws your way. 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

What if your relationship with alcohol was more about nourishment than willpower? In this eye-opening toolkit episode of The Big Drink Rethink, Anna shares one of her most powerful tools yet, a framework to help you discover what truly fuels and sustains you, making it easier to outgrow alcohol for good. Drawing on personal experience and Tara Mohr’s Core Nutrients Framework, Anna Donaghey guides you to uncover what you’re genuinely “thirsty for,” and how meeting these deeper needs naturally eases your reliance on booze. Whether you’re navigating the pressures of the holiday season or simply wanting to rethink your drinking habits, this episode is packed with practical exercises and gentle wisdom to help you feel more alive, grounded, and connected - no willpower required! Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Habits stick not through willpower, but by feeling nourished 03:10 Christmas amplifies everything, joy, loneliness, and chaos 09:12 Alcohol offers temporary comfort and connection 10:08 Reflect on your true cravings and emotional needs 13:48 Creativity, belonging, and connection energise your inner life 25:13 Prioritise self-nourishment, download the reflection sheet at thebigdrinkrethink.com/tools 26:57 Identifying core needs brings clarity, immediate well-being, and builds lasting habits. 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Have you ever questioned whether alcohol might be quietly dimming the best parts of your life? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, Anna Donaghey chats to Dan D'Souza, co-founder of MUUSH to explore how quitting alcohol made room for more meaning, creativity, and connection. From high-flying networking in boozy city jobs to finding real nourishment in purpose and daily joy, Dan shares his journey through the “grey area” of drinking and the practical, inspiring steps he took to rethink his relationship with alcohol. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: Dan D'Souza, co-founder of MUUSH, quit alcohol to prioritise purpose, and connection 04:00 Missed grades led to studying marketing at Sussex 09:54 Alcohol remains a social expectation and facilitator in business 15:54 Drinking can still be a problem if it depletes or distracts you 17:33 A turning point in 2023, after losing a bag with a phone and laptop 21:08 Focus on what feels good and kind 23:57 Removing alcohol creates space for reflection, opens new chapters, and fosters clarity for life's next steps 27:44 Spending less on alcohol allows for more purposeful spending 35:24 Focus on identifying priorities 37:07 Bridging taste and function in non-alcoholic drinks 43:00 Balance values and small pleasures while maintaining clarity and energy 46:02 Seeking professional help and finding inspiration from others 49:14 Friendships can evolve to provide emotional support 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebeliefscoach.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced by winteraudio.co.uk About Dan D’Souza: Dan D’Souza, co-founder of MUUSH - Lion’s Mane-based drinks brand. On a mission to bridge taste and function with Lion's

Letting go, relaxing, and releasing especially without alcohol can feel out of reach for many. In this insightful, toolbox-packed Q&A episode, Anna Donaghey tackles questions from listeners and coaching clients about why it can be so hard to relax or "let go," even after quitting drinking. This episode explores how patterns of control, nervous system wiring, shame, and old beliefs shape our inability to relax, and offers practical, compassionate tools for beginning to unlearn these habits and find true safety and release. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Introduction: Listener questions about “letting go” 01:57 Listener feels unable to soften and release 03:18 The nervous system doesn’t know how to release on its own 04:24 It's not that you're broken, the body has learned holding on is safe 05:33 Why we grip so tightly, and the link to safety and self-protection 06:42 Fear of falling apart, feeling emotions, and losing control 07:38 What does your tightness think it’s protecting? 08:05 Why “trying hard” to release is counterproductive 09:18 Create conditions where release can happen naturally 12:05 The importance of permission in self-care and self-worth 12:48 Seeking support, therapy, and accepting oneself 14:06 Start with possibility 17:19 Replace drinking rituals with calming alternatives 18:04 Healing is slow, small acts accumulate and become safety signals 19:09 Layers of trust: trust in self, trust in others, and (even) trust in life 22:31 “I don’t have to carry this anymore”; letting go doesn’t mean giving up 22:50 Release isn’t a destination, it’s a returning rhythm like breathing 25:03 Micro-moments of softening as daily healing gestures 26:16 Please submit your questions for future episodes. 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebeliefscoach.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced bya href="http://winteraudio.co.uk/"...

How deep do the patterns that drive our drinking really go? In this transformative episode, Anna talks to Dr. Evette Rose, internationally renowned holistic counselor, trauma recovery expert, and author of Metaphysical Anatomy to reveal how trauma, inherited stress, and family conditioning can hardwire us for coping mechanisms like alcohol, long before we ever pick up a drink. You’ll discover addiction is not just about willpower or habits. It’s about healing the imprints left by childhood, family history, and even foetal development. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking not just sobriety, but true freedom from old emotional wiring. ​Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Introduction: Exploring trauma, nervous system wiring, and alcohol 03:25 Growing up: alcoholism, violence, and longing for connection 07:36 How childhood patterns of stress shape identity 09:18 Repeating family patterns in relationships 12:09 Intergenerational trauma and addiction predisposition 15:10 The impact of maternal stress on addiction risk 17:01 The placenta as a “memory bank” for trauma 18:36 Not just nurture, trauma transfer at a cellular and biological level 22:01 How generational trauma can be “programmed” into you 28:38 Coping mechanisms beyond alcohol 33:00 Why focusing only on “fixing” yourself keeps you stuck 35:37 Rapid regulation exercises for triggers and cravings 41:22 Practical body-based tools for rewiring safety 48:00 What if you don’t know your family history? 51:05 Healing not as correcting flaws, but updating old survival patterns. 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: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: 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. Connect with Anna: Website: thebeliefscoach.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced by winteraudio.co.uk About Dr. Evette...