Sober Awkward

soberawkward

Winner, Best Well-Being Podcast at The Australian Podcast Awards 2024 Have you ever woken up after a big night out and declared, “I’m never drinking again,” only to find yourself waving $50 at a barman by Happy Hour? Yep, Vic’s been there too. Join Victoria Vanstone, award-winning podcaster, author, and former binge-drinking party animal, as she explores what it’s really like to be sober in a world absolutely soaked in alcohol. Each week on Sober Awkward, Vic dives into boozy topics, social pressures, anxiety, identity wobbles, and the messy reality of quitting drinking, opening up the shame shed of humiliating stories so you don’t have to feel alone in yours. With humour, honesty, and zero judgement, Vic tells it like it is, from vomit and one-night stands to life on the other side of destructive drinking. If you’ve hit a wall, you’re fed up with anxiety, headaches, and blackouts, or you’re just quietly sober-curious, pop the kettle on and learn how to feel the awkward, and do it anyway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    18 hr ago

    The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials -Finally Meeting Myself - By Allyson Every Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you. Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol. Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone. Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants. So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community. 💛 Resources & Links 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic. 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak https://hellosundaymorning.org https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A Gentle Reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min
  2. The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    24 Jun

    The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - Alcohol, Motherhood and Me - By Emily Every Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you. Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol. Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone. Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants. So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community. 💛 Resources & Links 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic. 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak https://hellosundaymorning.org https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A Gentle Reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min
  3. The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    17 Jun

    The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - No More Numbing Out - By Aliz, Texas Every Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you. Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol. Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone. Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants. So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community. 💛 Resources & Links 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic. 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak https://hellosundaymorning.org https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A Gentle Reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    8 min
  4. The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    10 Jun

    The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    This week in the Share Shed, one listener wakes up to discover he’d apparently spent 40 minutes running barefoot on a treadmill at 3am… after swimming in a stranger’s pool and blacking out at a party. The only problem? He remembers none of it. A hilarious story with a surprisingly thoughtful twist about sobriety, fitness, and what happens when one obsession gets replaced by another. The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It’s not about judgement, it’s about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we’re on the other side. But sometimes, it’s also a place for the harder stuff, the honest bits we don’t always say out loud. If you’ve got a story you’d like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or something a bit more serious, you can send it to Vic at: vic@soberawkward.com Anonymous is absolutely fine. In fact, for legal reasons, probably preferable!! 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s Shame Shed felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support out there. You don’t have to do this on your own. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak 🌐 https://hellosundaymorning.org 🌐 https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic 🌐 https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 🌐 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK 🌐 https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You 🌐 https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous 🌐 https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery 🌐 https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A gentle reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s really important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 min
  5. The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    3 Jun

    The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    Today on the Share Shed we have one confession and one question. First up, a listener wakes up in Las Vegas with more than just a hangover… let’s just say Elvis may have been involved and somebody accidentally got married. Then we tackle a question many people quietly ask themselves: if your hands shake the morning after drinking, is that a sign you’re an alcoholic? The answer might surprise you. Pour yourself a cuppa and join us for today’s Share Shed. The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It’s not about judgement, it’s about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we’re on the other side. But sometimes, it’s also a place for the harder stuff, the honest bits we don’t always say out loud. If you’ve got a story you’d like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or something a bit more serious, you can send it to Vic at: vic@soberawkward.com Anonymous is absolutely fine. In fact, for legal reasons, probably preferable!! 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s Shame Shed felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support out there. You don’t have to do this on your own. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak 🌐 https://hellosundaymorning.org 🌐 https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic 🌐 https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 🌐 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK 🌐 https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You 🌐 https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous 🌐 https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery 🌐 https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A gentle reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s really important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    11 min
  6. The Hidden Struggle of the High Functioning Drinker - with James Swanwick

    31 May

    The Hidden Struggle of the High Functioning Drinker - with James Swanwick

    This week on Sober Awkward, Vic chats to James Swanwick about high-functioning drinking, success, pressure and the growing movement of people choosing to live alcohol free — not because they’ve completely fallen apart, but because they simply feel better without it. James is an Australian stop drinking expert, author, investor, entrepreneur and former SportsCenter anchor on ESPN. He is the creator of stop drinking organisation, Alcohol Free Lifestyle, which helps business owners and executives finally break free from alcohol without AA, rehab or willpower. Together, Vic and James unpack the myth that alcohol problems only affect people at “rock bottom” and explore why high achievers often struggle silently for years. They chat about identity, pride, social pressure, parenting, masculinity, success and why being outwardly functional can actually make it harder to admit something isn’t working. They also explore a really interesting question: Can giving up alcohol sometimes be less about “having a problem”… and more about choosing a different lifestyle entirely? Plus there’s chat about celebrity alcohol brands, the rise of the alcohol-free movement, Gen Z turning away from booze and why many people are beginning to realise that alcohol may be taking far more than it gives. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered: “Do I actually need to wait for things to get worse before I make a change?” Enjoy! Find James' work here - IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamesswanwick/ FB: https://web.facebook.com/AlcoholFreeLifestyle https://web.facebook.com/JamesSwanwickOfficial Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlcoholFreeLifestyle https://www.youtube.com/@JamesSwanwick TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesswanwick Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5253hMZWPlEWj6AVodbkC7 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alcohol-free-lifestyle/id1518416850 X: https://x.com/jamesswanwick AFL Website: https://alcoholfreelifestyle.com/ 💛 Resources & Links 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 Buy the book here 🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  7. The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    27 May

    The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    This week on the Share Shed we’re talking drunk online shopping… you know, those slightly terrifying mystery parcels that arrive two days after a blackout. From sequinned capes and stuffed frogs in hats… to accidentally booking holidays to Spain you have absolutely no memory of organising. Basically: If you’ve ever opened your front door hungover and thought, “What in the name of Christ have I bought now?” …this one’s for you. The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It’s not about judgement, it’s about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we’re on the other side. But sometimes, it’s also a place for the harder stuff, the honest bits we don’t always say out loud. If you’ve got a story you’d like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or something a bit more serious, you can send it to Vic at: vic@soberawkward.com Anonymous is absolutely fine. In fact, for legal reasons, probably preferable!! 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s Shame Shed felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support out there. You don’t have to do this on your own. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak 🌐 https://hellosundaymorning.org 🌐 https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic 🌐 https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 🌐 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK 🌐 https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You 🌐 https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous 🌐 https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery 🌐 https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A gentle reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s really important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 min
  8. The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    14 May

    The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    This week on the Share Shed we’re talking boundaries. Vic chats about caring from afar, therapy and emotional carnage with a side of bad decisions. Classic Share Shed. The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It’s not about judgement, it’s about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we’re on the other side. But sometimes, it’s also a place for the harder stuff, the honest bits we don’t always say out loud. If you’ve got a story you’d like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or something a bit more serious, you can send it to Vic at: vic@soberawkward.com Anonymous is absolutely fine. In fact, for legal reasons, probably preferable!! 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s Shame Shed felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support out there. You don’t have to do this on your own. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak 🌐 https://hellosundaymorning.org 🌐 https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic 🌐 https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 🌐 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK 🌐 https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You 🌐 https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous 🌐 https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery 🌐 https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A gentle reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s really important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    8 min

About

Winner, Best Well-Being Podcast at The Australian Podcast Awards 2024 Have you ever woken up after a big night out and declared, “I’m never drinking again,” only to find yourself waving $50 at a barman by Happy Hour? Yep, Vic’s been there too. Join Victoria Vanstone, award-winning podcaster, author, and former binge-drinking party animal, as she explores what it’s really like to be sober in a world absolutely soaked in alcohol. Each week on Sober Awkward, Vic dives into boozy topics, social pressures, anxiety, identity wobbles, and the messy reality of quitting drinking, opening up the shame shed of humiliating stories so you don’t have to feel alone in yours. With humour, honesty, and zero judgement, Vic tells it like it is, from vomit and one-night stands to life on the other side of destructive drinking. If you’ve hit a wall, you’re fed up with anxiety, headaches, and blackouts, or you’re just quietly sober-curious, pop the kettle on and learn how to feel the awkward, and do it anyway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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