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Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  Dr. Frank Spinelli is an expert on shame and trauma, but his understanding of both began long before his career did. As a child, Frank was sexually abused by his Boy Scout leader, a man who was not only highly regarded in his community but also a law enforcement officer. Frank was able to bring this man to justice. But what happened afterwards, and how Frank actually felt about it, may surprise you. In this conversation, Frank introduces us to The Shame Compass, a framework built around a question; what if, instead of trying to suppress our shame, we learned to listen to it? Frank explores how shame can offer us information about ourselves, point us towards the things we need to work through and help us better understand the experiences that have shaped us. We also unpack the difference between guilt and shame, and how the belief that we're fundamentally bad can shape the way we see ourselves, our relationships and our recovery. Follow Dr Frank Spinelli here: @fspinellimd Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Suzi has been certified insane. Twice. And she’ll tell you that with a wicked grin. After a lonely childhood, Suzi found belonging in being the party girl. But what started as partying eventually spiralled into psychosis and multiple psychiatric admissions. Rather than addressing her alcohol use, Suzi was diagnosed with schizophrenia and told she would never get better. It wasn’t until an overseas trip ended with Suzi handing herself in to authorities for her own safety that a family member suggested AA. She’s never looked back. But getting sober brought its own realisations. Suzi recognised that while she’d stopped drinking, her codependency was still thriving.  Today, she’s teaching us to embrace the parts of ourselves we once felt ashamed of, rather than hiding them away. Follow Suzi here: @staying.sober.suzi Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

My first solo(ish) subscriber-exclusive episode! Let me know what you think x

Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  Rich Dunning remembers the exact day his childhood changed forever. It was the day his stepfather arrived on their doorstep. Rich and his siblings grew up in poverty in the Bronx, experiencing extreme violence from this man, as well as periods of homelessness. As Rich got older, he found a way to cope with the fear and anxiety he was carrying from his stepfather. He started to drink and by 16, Rich says he was a full-blown alcoholic. Years later, now a father himself, Rich realised something that would force him to confront his addiction in a completely different way. He had spent his childhood desperately trying to escape the cycle, only to realise he was beginning to repeat it with his own children. Buy "Silence Was My First Language" by Rich Dunning HERE Follow Rich on social media: @richdunningbooks Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Use code 'SOBER' for 50% off at checkout www.iwannagummies.com  At just seven years old, Liam Christopher knew how to check whether his mum was still alive. Growing up in public housing with three brothers, two parents struggling with substance use and a home where violence was a part of everyday life, Liam was forced to grow up far too quickly. He learnt early on to look after himself and the people around him, taking on a responsibility no child should have to carry. Today, Liam is a successful entrepreneur, partner and dad, with a life that looks worlds away from the one he grew up in.But Liam has also lost two of his three brothers, including one to suicide. So how does a childhood spent in survival mode shape the person you become, even decades later? Follow Liam Christopher on social media: @itsliamchristopher Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Do you feel like you could potentially be teetering on the edge of burnout? You feel disconnected from the things that once lit you up. You’re constantly busy, overrun, yet somehow you’re completely checked out and feel like you haven’t done anything. Today I speak to psychologist Zahra Ciardi and unpack what happens when achievement and work become another way of escaping what we’re actually trying to avoid, and when burnout, trauma and addiction become tangled together. We also dive into something I’ve been pondering a lot lately, and that’s the way we remember our childhood. How selective memory and the way we map our experiences can shape the story we carry about what happened to us, who we believe we are and the childhood we believe we had. Follow Zahra Ciardi on Instagram: @zahra_ciardi Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  After divorcing her childhood sweetheart, the father of her children, Jade was craving love, attention and validation. And when extremely dangerous men gave her exactly that, she felt wanted. But what started with huge declarations of love quickly turned into manipulation, coercive control and eventually extreme physical violence. In her second relationship, Jade’s partner encouraged her to take drugs as a way of coping with the abuse, keeping her in a state where she was easier to control. After being brutally beaten in public, Jade finally realised this man wasn’t going to change. And if she didn’t escape, she feared he would eventually kill her. Trigger warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of domestic violence, including physical abuse and coercive control Follow Jade on Instagram here: @jadepalmer94_ Buy Jade's book here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Still-Standing-Jade-Palmer-ebook/dp/B0HHH79HLF Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  Lisa Ortiz doesn’t have one single happy memory from her childhood. The earliest moment she can remember is being left at an adoption centre with her younger brother. Lisa’s childhood was filled with every type of abuse, which eventually led to a cycle of getting into relationships with violent men, committing crime, having children and being sent to prison. At one point, Lisa even gave birth to her son whilst serving one of these sentences, chained to the bed. This cycle continued for years, with Lisa repeatedly finding herself in situations that would change the course of her life and affect the lives of her children. Eventually, whilst working as a sex worker, Lisa became involved in a crime that left her victim almost dead and resulted in a sentence that was supposed to be life in prison. Buy Lisa's book HERE Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  If you’re an Australian millennial like myself, you’ll probably know Kate DeAraugo. Kate won Australian Idol back in 2005 and went on to become one of the members of Young Divas. But behind the overnight success, the fame and the huge skyrocketing career was a very different story. Kate was introduced to cocaine by someone in the music industry, and this would ultimately send her career on a downward trajectory. Whilst methamphetamine use was the drug that made headlines, Kate says the one substance that initially had the strongest hold over her was nitrous oxide, or nangs. Kate has spoken about her career countless times, so I didn’t want to ask the same surface-level questions. I wanted to get into the weeds of her substance use, her relationship with addiction, love addiction, food addiction, and whether she grieved the fame and career she thought she would have, but ultimately lost to drugs. Follow Kate DeAraugo on Instagram: @katedearaugo_official Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  Content warning: this episode contains graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse, including sexual abuse of infants. This is, without a doubt, one of the most horrific cases of child sexual abuse I have ever heard. Jeremy was just five years old when he first came into contact with his abuser, a female paedophile who was also one of his therapists. As a disabled child, Jeremy was placed in the care of health professionals he and his family trusted. His abuser was a woman, a therapist, and a mother, and that combination of trust and perceived safety allowed the abuse to continue for years without anyone noticing. Jeremy is passionate about telling his story because he wants to bring more awareness to female paedophiles and the ways in which abuse perpetrated by women can go unnoticed or be dismissed. Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking Follow Soberly Speaking on Instagram: @soberlyspeaking Want to share your story? Apply now: https://soberlyspeaking.com.au/

Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  Bailey has known addiction all her life. Her father was an addict, and she writes to me that she was “born with a backpack on her back”, meaning she was constantly being moved around between her mum’s, her dad’s and her nana’s. This instability ultimately led to Bailey slipping through the cracks. She was drinking by 11 and using ice by 16, while she was still in school. Shortly after, she fell pregnant and ultimately decided to have her first termination. Bailey went on to enter abusive relationships and is incredibly honest about the times when she was the aggressor and abusive herself. But the one drug that remained constant throughout her life was weed, which eventually sent her into psychosis, not once but twice. Bailey went on to do OnlyFans before entering full-service sex work in a brothel, and it wasn’t until she met her partner that Bailey decided to begin the process of getting sober and leaving sex work behind. Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  This week, I’m joined by award-winning psychotherapist Paula Williams to explore why we can continue behaviours we know aren’t good for us, even when we desperately want to change. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS), Paula explains the different parts of ourselves and why one part can want to let go while another still clings to a behaviour. We discuss people-pleasing, replacing one addiction with another, relapse and the ways addiction can shape an entire family system across generations. And what does recovery look like when sobriety is no longer the end goal, but the beginning? Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  Nisha calls herself The Cockney Copper on social media. She’s a police officer, and the first I’ve ever had on Soberly Speaking. Nisha grew up as a South Asian woman where generational trauma was never spoken about. Emotions were swept under the rug, and keeping up appearances was everything. When she felt like she didn’t belong, alcohol became her way of finding connection. Even after getting sober, that feeling returned when she joined the police force and found herself surrounded by work drinks and socialising. Eventually, she relapsed. We talk about relapse, how to emotionally regulate when your job exposes you to some of the darkest parts of the world every day, and how Nisha navigated recovery through miscarriage and baby loss.

Follow Nisha on Instagram: @cockneycopper Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Join our Patreon: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking⁠  “I was a horizontal drinker” Alex’s relationship with alcohol and substances had always been extreme, but when a business partner left him tens of thousands of dollars in debt, the financial pressure catapulted his drinking and coke use to another level. Before long, he was hiding whiskey under his pillow so he could wake up, drink, and pass out again. Alex’s journey with sobriety has been anything but linear. After becoming physically dependent on alcohol, he suffered a seizure while trying to go cold turkey and relapsed multiple times. Even after finally quitting alcohol, Alex admits he wasn’t happy in sobriety. After travelling to Colombia for an ayahuasca ceremony, Alex relapsed and brought his drinking back to the UK. When he eventually sought help, he made the decision to go all in on AA, something he had never truly done before. Follow Alex on Instagram: @recoveringalkialex Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, addiction, drug use, mental health, suicide and recovery. If this episode raises anything for you, please reach out to a trusted support person or contact a crisis support service in your area. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015 ⁠https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline⁠ Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 ⁠https://www.lifeline.org.au⁠ 1800RESPECT provides support for people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse. Call 1800 737 732 ⁠https://www.1800respect.org.au⁠ Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea Creative Director - Beaudene Perussich Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.