The Alcohol & Addiction Podcast

When life gets loud, do you reach for connection—or for a coping mechanism?   In this vulnerable conversation, trauma-informed coach Nina Vasquez makes a bold case: most of us aren’t “addicted”… we’re avoiding ourselves.   We explore what it means to stop numbing and start feeling, and how shame, isolation, and disconnection from the body keep us stuck in the same loop.   In this episode, we dive into: • The difference between isolation and solitude—and why one heals while the other hides. • How shame keeps you small and disconnected from your truth. • Why nervous-system safety is the foundation of all healing. • Body-based tools to release stored emotion—breath, sound, shaking, and movement. • How mirror work and eye contact rebuild self-trust and compassion. • The shame–numb–shame spiral behind alcohol, food, and scrolling. • Simple ways to start living a SELF-led life, AFAF.   Grab Nina’s free nervous system guide: ninavasquezcoaching.com/gifts   If you want personal help to become AFAF, email thestrivemet

What if joy isn’t something you wait to feel—but a skill you can practice, share, and scale? In this conversation with The Party Scientist, Jacques Martiquet, we explore how music regulates the nervous system, why psychological safety makes joy contagious, and how connection—not chemistry—creates the moments you remember. We swap stories from festivals, Burning Man, and everyday life to show you simple social risks that turn awkward rooms into communities—without a drop of booze.   Inside: — Why music + voice prosody can calm your body and open you to connection — The difference between high-energy hype and the quieter flavours of joy (gratitude, presence, attunement) — Phones, alcohol, and safety: how “full frontal-lobe” gatherings change everything — Joy as leadership: lighting up individuals, then groups (communal joy) — Practical ways to play more—with people—so joy becomes repeatable   A quick invite for STRIVERS: if evenings feel edgy or you’re stuck using alcohol for reward or belonging, STRIVE Foundat

Ever notice how comforting it feels to run to your “safe people” when life gets rough—the ones who nod, agree, and reassure you? For a moment, you feel calmer. But here’s the catch: nothing really changes.   In this episode, I unpack why alcohol is the ultimate echo chamber—always agreeing, never challenging—and how “safe conversations” can quietly keep you stuck. I share personal stories, explore the drama triangle, and reveal why choosing discomfort is the real path to growth.   We’ll talk about echo chambers versus idea labs, how to regulate your nervous system when you feel attacked, and three practical moves to break free from victim mode.   If you’ve ever wondered why the same struggles keep looping, this one’s for you.   If your nervous system feels on edge by 5 pm, chances are you’re running to your own echo chamber—whether that’s a wine glass, a WhatsApp group, or a pub stool. STRIVE Foundations helps you flip that script. Twenty bite-size workshops, one simple truth: alcohol is the Liquid Lie.    #1

The baby wouldn’t stop crying. We were 26, knackered, and suddenly drowning in wine we never meant to drink.   When parenthood hit, so did the isolation. Nights out turned into nights in, and without even realising it, we brought the pub into the house. One glass became a bottle. Tuesdays felt like Fridays. And before long, drinking wasn’t a choice—it was a ritual.   In this episode of the 1000 Days Sober Podcast, I share how being homebound in my twenties made my drinking worse, the subtle shift that happens when alcohol moves from social to medicinal, and the steps you can take to break that cycle before it wrecks more than your evenings.   We’ll cover: – How “just one glass” at home turns into a hidden pattern. – Why your PARTS convince you alcohol = connection. – The truth about what your kids learn when they see you drink. – Five practical tips to stop drinking at home as a parent.  

Norm MacDonald was one of comedy’s sharpest minds—and in this rare conversation, he opens up about his relationship with alcohol, how quitting changed his creativity, and why living alcohol-free gave him an edge in life.   You’ll hear Norm’s stories about drinking on stage, what happens when alcohol becomes part of your persona, and why he believed alcohol is “the worst drug of all.” We also explore the myth that booze fuels creativity—and what really happens when you perform with a clear mind.   This is Norm at his most honest and reflective. If you’ve ever wondered what life might look like without alcohol, this episode will give you a glimpse.  

Nothing prepares you for quitting alcohol. Not the books, not the blogs, not the horror stories — nothing.   Most people think 30 days without alcohol will be a nightmare: no fun, no relaxation, no connection. But what if those fears are exaggerated? What if those 30 days aren’t the end of joy, but the beginning of calmness, clarity, courage, and connection?   In this episode, I share what really happened when I quit drinking for 30 days. From blackouts and shame spirals to the eight Cs of SELF, you’ll hear how one decision reshaped my marriage, career, and sense of identity.  

What if quitting drinking wasn’t about losing your friends—but about losing your supply? Not alcohol. Not even fun. Supply: that deep hit of approval, belonging, and validation.   When I quit drinking, my biggest fear wasn’t the empty pint glass—it was the empty space where my friends’ approval used to be.   In this episode, I share how my Performer Part ran the show for years, why I chased validation like survival, and how quitting alcohol forced me to face the truth about my need for supply.   You’ll hear how I discovered Alice Miller’s Drama of the Gifted Child, learned about narcissistic supply, and began practicing daily self-mirroring—approving of myself instead of outsourcing worth to others.   This isn’t about losing friends. It’s about reclaiming yourself.   Listen in, and let’s break the cycle together.   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #alcoholfree #sobriety #selfleadership #IFS #selflove #peoplepleasing #alcoholrecovery #alcoholawareness #quitdrinking #mentalhealth #narc

Most people don’t drink because they love alcohol—they drink because they’re hiding from something deeper. And nowhere is this more obvious than in our relationships.   In this episode, inspired by Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, I explore why so many of us choose partners from PARTS—fear of loneliness, desperation for approval—instead of from SELF. When that happens, alcohol becomes the band-aid that holds together relationships that were never truly built on love or alignment in the first place.   If you’re reaching for the bottle to cope with conflict, numb loneliness, or paper over the cracks of disconnection—this conversation is for you.   Listen in as I break down: – How insecure attachment styles set us up for painful patterns. – Why alcohol shows up when relationships feel chaotic. – Five red flags you may be in the wrong relationship. – The vow you can take today to start choosing connection from SELF.   If alcohol is hiding the truth about your relationship—and you want to change that—join STRIVE Foundat

Today’s guest, Susana Carter, is an inspiring example of what it means to turn pain into purpose. An Arizona-based QHHT and Soul Speak practitioner, she works with people to unlock higher levels of consciousness, heal emotional wounds, and live in their truest self. But Susana’s path to this work was anything but easy. She’s walked through childhood trauma, navigated adult heartbreak, and spent years using alcohol to escape—until one August evening, she put down the bottle for good. Eight years later, she’s not only thriving but helping others do the same.   In our conversation, we explore her journey from drinking a bottle of vodka a night to guiding others through deep emotional healing, the challenges of living alcohol-free in a relationship with a partner who still drinks, and the lessons she’s learned about self-responsibility, love, and holding space without losing yourself. If you’ve ever wondered how to stand strong in your sobriety while those around you continue to drink—or how life’s darkest moment

What if the way you talk to yourself isn’t just shaping your inner world—but also the energy of every room you walk into?   In this Coaches Corner episode, I share a powerful story about a man whose self-criticism didn’t just wound him—it disrupted his entire group. You’ll hear how shifting from PARTS-led self-attack to SELF-led compassion transformed not only his nervous system but also everyone around him.    We’ll explore: – How nervous system awareness reveals when you’ve slipped “below the line.” – Why your self-talk isn’t harmless—it’s inherited. – The 3 steps that helped one man stop attacking himself and start healing the room. – Why healing your nervous system is the real secret to staying alcohol-free-as-f***.   This isn’t just theory. It’s about building integrity, safety, and compassion in every space you enter—starting with how you treat yourself.    Follow @LeeDavyCoaching for the best alcohol-free content on the planet. Curious about your drinking? You don’t have to be ready to quit, you just

There’s a special kind of fear when you’re in pain and far from home—no language, no map, no one truly seeing you. In this episode, I share a recent health scare in Riga and the deeper lesson it surfaced: when our nervous system is on high alert, we don’t need more instructions… we need to feel held.    You’ll hear the story, the moment I realised I was craving safety—not solutions—and a simple 3-step practice to find steadiness without reaching for a drink: Name the PART that’s scared. Find the holding energy (person, memory, space). From SELF, choose the next best move.    If Safety is one of the six STRIVE needs, this episode is your reminder that it’s an inside job—amplified by the people and spaces that can hold you in the storm. We’ll close with a Daily Vow you can carry into your day.    If this resonates, follow @LeeDavyCoaching for the best alcohol-free content on the planet, and if you’re curious about your drinking—you don’t have to be ready to quit, just ready to look—start here: https://www.th

When you’ve lived your intimate life with alcohol as the social glue, it’s easy to forget what real connection feels like. In this episode, I unpack how the bar–drink–hookup loop rewires your nervous system, blurs your boundaries, and keeps you chasing validation instead of presence. I share my own story of how booze shaped my sexual defaults, the archetypes that fuel risky behaviour, and the simple, grounded practices that help you build intimacy from SELF — no liquid courage required.   We’ll cover how to map your intimacy patterns, meet the PARTS that crave hookups, and practise connection in alcohol-free environments so you can stop rehearsing the wrong script and start attracting people who meet you as you are.   Follow @LeeDavyCoaching for the best alcohol-free content on the planet!   Curious about your drinking? You don’t have to be ready to quit — you just have to be ready to look. Start here: www.thestrivemethod.com/foundations   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #AFAF #selfledlife #alcoholfree

The moment you think you can “just” have one drink after years alcohol-free, you’ve already lost. Moderation isn’t control—it’s the first crack in the dam.   In this episode, I share my own failed attempt at moderation after three years alcohol-free-as-fuck, the painful Vegas-to-Lion-King wake-up call that ended it, and the deeper truth that moderation is rarely about the drink—it’s about hidden pain. You’ll learn how Internal Family Systems therapy explains the ‘firefighters’ and ‘exiles’ behind relapse, and why you can’t fight them alone.   If moderation feels tempting right now, it’s time to ask what’s really hurting inside. And if you want the tools, awareness, and support to face it head-on without sliding back into the cycle, STRIVE Foundations is where you start.   Follow @LeeDavyCoaching for the best alcohol-free content on the planet. Join STRIVE Foundations here → www.thestrivemethod.com/foundations   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #AFAF #alcoholfreelife #sobriety #quitdrinking #alcoholfree

You can’t climb a mountain while chained to the valley. If you want to elevate, you’ve got to let go of what’s holding you down — even if it’s familiar, even if it’s comfortable, even if it’s all you’ve ever known.   In this episode, I share how becoming alcohol-free-as-fuck wasn’t just about ditching the drink — it meant dismantling the life that no longer served me. From ending long-term relationships to releasing old identities, I learned that true growth demands separation.   You’ll discover why letting go isn’t loss but liberation, how to meet the fear of separation with SELF-leadership, and the one simple question to ask yourself every day if you want to rise.  

What would you do if you suddenly had an extra £8,398 in your pocket? Pay off debt? Treat your kids? Finally book that dream trip?   That’s exactly what I gained when I stopped drinking—and in this episode, I’m breaking down how I did it through a process I call The Reclamation. You’ll learn why the decision to live a SELF-led life doesn’t just change your health—it can transform your finances, relationships, and future.   I’ll share my exact alcohol spend before quitting, the simple framework that helped me stop, and how you can test-drive it yourself with a 30-day challenge that might just give you the biggest financial and emotional return of your life.  

The moment you bring your first child home, you think you know what’s coming — until reality hits you like a freight train. For me, it was 24 hours of relentless crying, no sleep, and a crushing feeling that I wasn’t ready. And I wasn’t sober.   In this episode, I share the story of my first night as a father, the contrast between parenting while drinking and parenting while living AFAF, and the lessons I’ve learned about presence, patience, and connection. Whether you’re a dad now or preparing to become one, these insights will help you show up with the energy, patience, and love your children deserve.   We’ll talk about: ✅ Why sobriety is the foundation for presence in fatherhood ✅ How to shift from “I have to” to “I’m blessed to” ✅ Managing your nervous system so you’re the calm in the chaos ✅ Navigating intimacy and connection after a baby arrives ✅ The power of rupture and repair to build trust with your kids   If this episode makes you reflect on how you’re showing up for your children, I invite you to

You’re not drinking for fun. You’re drinking to feel like you’re enough.   But no matter how many glasses you pour, the feeling never sticks—because alcohol can’t fix a childhood wound.   In today’s episode, we explore one of the most powerful workshops inside STRIVE Foundations: Why We Never Feel Good Enough. Whether you drink at the pub to fit in or alone to silence the shame, this episode is a wake-up call.   Lee shares his own story of being bullied as a child and how that early experience shaped a PART of him that never felt worthy. That PART later reached for wine, not because of weakness, but because of a deep, unspoken pain.   If you’ve ever been afraid to tell someone you’re quitting alcohol, if you’ve ever used booze to feel “normal,” or if you’ve ever felt like a burden—this is for you.   This episode isn’t about stopping drinking.   It’s about understanding why you started.   It’s about healing.   It’s about remembering who you are underneath the mask.  

If words can change water, what are they doing to your body?   In this episode, I share how a simple tax bill triggered an avalanche of internal shame—and what that moment taught me about the power of self-talk. We explore the science behind neuroception, how your nervous system picks up threat without a single word, and how even your tone and breath can fracture or soothe the people around you.   This isn’t just about calming your system. It’s about repairing the ripple effect of your energy in every conversation, relationship, and room you enter.   If your inner voice feels like it’s at war with you, it’s time to create a new relationship with yourself.  

What if addiction wasn’t a flaw… but a pattern trying to protect you?   In this powerful conversation, I sit down with trauma-informed coach and feminine embodiment leader Rachelle Luv Raku to explore the link between trauma, addiction, and emotional expression—and how the very PARTS of us that seem “mad” might be the ones trying to bring us home.   We dive into the deeper roots of why we drink, what it really takes to feel safe, and how our addiction to fixing ourselves might be the most invisible trap of all.   If you’ve ever wondered: – Why do I keep snapping at the people I love? – Why do I feel alive… only when I’m doing something destructive? – Why do I sabotage when life starts going well?   …this episode will hit you in the gut and in the heart.   Rachelle shares her own journey through the party scene, deep shame, and the embodied path that helped her reclaim her voice, her nervous system, and her feminine fire.   This one is juicy. Wild. Real. And full of invitations for you to come home to yourSELF

Ever feel like you’re just pretending to have it all together? That any moment now, someone’s going to realise you’re not as capable or confident as you look?   That’s imposter syndrome. And it’s the part of you that says, “You’re not good enough,” “You don’t belong here,” or “You’ll fail anyway, so why try?”   In today’s episode, I dive into the roots of imposter syndrome—from my own childhood wounds to the daily battles that still surface when I coach, lead, and live AFAF.   And if you’ve ever poured a drink to silence that voice… If you’ve held yourself back from living, loving, or leading… This episode is for you.   I’ll show you how to stop fighting the part of you that feels like a fraud—and start listening to it with compassion.   Let’s dismantle the lie that says you’re not enough.   Let’s get above the line.   STRIVE Foundations is here for you when you’re ready to rewrite the story. You don’t need to be sure. You don’t need to be confident. You just need to be curious.