The Sober Seat

The Sober Seat | With Aish
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I’m Aish, and this is The Sober Seat. A podcast changing the way addiction is viewed and recovery is talked about, because addiction doesn’t always look like addiction. By 27, I was a round-the-clock drinker, trying to fit in and navigate life with undiagnosed AuDHD, while feeling misunderstood and disconnected even in a room full of people. Through raw stories and honest conversations with people who have rebuilt their lives, this podcast explores sobriety, recovery, mental health, and what it means to rebuild a life in your 30s and beyond. For the high-functioning, the hidden struggles, the sober curious, the affected others, and anyone who has ever felt unseen or misunderstood Because recovery isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about finally feeling comfortable being who you are. And what a sobering thought it is… that there are seats waiting for you at tables you’re yet to discover, and you’ll quickly realise they’re exactly where you belong. So pull up a chair. Come sit with us.

  1. 20 hr ago

    Alcohol Addiction | I Thought I Had Anxiety. It Was Withdrawal & 7am Vodka Kept Me High Functioning

    What started as social drinking gradually became morning drinking, alcohol withdrawal, and a life Amanda no longer recognised. Like so many people, she mistook the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal for anxiety, never realising how deeply addiction had taken hold. Because addiction doesn't always look like addiction. It can hide behind successful careers, loving families, busy routines, or be dismissed as stress, anxiety, or "just enjoying a drink." In this episode of The Sober Seat, Amanda shares what it's really like to live with alcohol addiction. She opens up about how alcoholism cost her everything: her home, her job, her confidence, and ultimately herself. As her world became smaller, instant alcohol delivery services made it easier than ever for addiction to thrive behind closed doors, fuelling the isolation that kept her trapped. After multiple attempts to stop drinking, Amanda reached a point where she knew she couldn't do it alone. In 2024, Change Grow Live (CGL) offered her a lifeline. Through a medically assisted alcohol detox and ongoing support, Amanda began rebuilding a life she never thought was possible. Today, Amanda leads SMART Recovery meetings at CGL, helping others take the first steps she once thought she'd never be able to make. Alcohol took everything from her, but sobriety has given her more than she ever imagined. This is an honest conversation about alcohol addiction, alcohol dependency, withdrawal, mental health, anxiety, recovery, grief, and rebuilding life after addiction. Amanda also shares why she believes urgent action is needed to tackle alcohol harm and the ease of instant alcohol delivery. Topics covered: alcohol addiction, alcohol dependency, alcohol withdrawal, alcoholism, recovery, sobriety, mental health, grief, addiction awareness, public health, Change Grow Live (CGL), SMART Recovery, alcohol delivery services, campaigning, Alcohol Change UK, End the Delivery Trap, UK alcohol policy, and alcohol harm. If you've ever wondered why someone can't "just stop drinking", or you've watched someone you love become trapped by alcohol addiction, this episode is for you. Whether you're sober, sober curious, supporting someone in recovery, or simply want to better understand alcohol dependence, this conversation offers honesty, hope, and proof that recovery is possible. So get comfy. Pull up a chair. Come sit with us. This is The Sober Seat. 🎧✨ Where to find us TikTok: @aish_thesoberseat Instagram: @aish_thesoberseat Guest: @beyond_sober Campaign: End the Delivery Trap (Alcohol Change UK) https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/end-the-delivery-trap Support: Change Grow Live (CGL) https://www.changegrowlive.org/about-us

    59 min

  2. 1 Jul

    One Year Sober | How I Survived a Cocaine and Alcohol Addiction That Was Controlling My Life

    In this episode of The Sober Seat, Alice returns, to discuss Life After Addiction, Quitting Alcohol and 1 Year on Into Sobriety. We talk about what really happens after reaching the milestone so many people in recovery work towards. Because one year sober doesn’t mean life suddenly becomes easy. Alice opens up about the reality of year two recovery — where the external chaos may have settled, but the internal work around shame, identity, and emotional healing becomes even more present. We talk about shame in addiction and recovery, including the belief of not being “bad enough” to be an alcoholic, and how that narrative can delay seeking help and deepen isolation. The conversation also explores sobriety in real life situations, particularly navigating sober weddings, hen dos, summer drinking culture, and the pressure to fit into social environments where alcohol is still central. We also explore expectations vs resentment in sobriety, and how recovery can sometimes feel very different from what you imagined in early sobriety. There is an honest and important reflection on shame connected to sexual assault, and how trauma can resurface in sobriety when alcohol is no longer being used to numb emotional pain. This is a conversation about sobriety, alcohol addiction recovery, emotional healing, trauma, and what it really means to rebuild your life after alcohol. Topics covered: one year sober, sobriety, alcohol addiction, addiction recovery, sober curious, quitting alcohol, shame in addiction, functional alcoholic, high functioning alcoholism, sober weddings, sober hen do, sober social life, drinking culture, expectations vs reality, resentment in recovery, trauma and sobriety, sexual assault and recovery, mental health, early sobriety, year two sobriety, life after alcohol. If you’ve ever reached sobriety and realised the work isn’t finished, or struggled with shame, comparison, or emotional overwhelm in recovery, this episode is for you. Because year one is survival. But year two is where you start learning how to live. So, get comfy. Pull up a chair. Come sit with us. This is The Sober Seat. New episodes every Wednesday at 8PM. Make sure you follow The Sober Seat and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Find us on socials: @aish_thesoberseat @thesoberseatpod @findingwonderland33

    1hr 2min

  3. 10 Jun

    My Sister Died After Spending £1,500 A Month On Alcohol Delivery | Now Im Campaigning for Change

    Alex’s sister died after spending around £1,500 a month on alcohol deliveries. Now, she’s campaigning for change. In this episode of the Sober Seat, Alex shares the heartbreaking story of losing her sister to alcohol addiction and how easy access to home alcohol delivery became part of that devastating reality . What might sound like an isolated tragedy is anything but. Across the UK, thousands of families are affected by alcohol harm, and the rapid growth of on demand delivery has raised difficult questions about consumer safety and accountability. Alex also discusses her work with Alcohol Change UK and the organisation’s End the Delivery Trap campaign, which calls for stronger protections to reduce alcohol related harm and encourage more responsible delivery practices. This is a conversation about addiction, grief, public health, family, recovery, and advocacy, but also about turning personal loss into meaningful action. Alex’s story highlights a wider issue affecting communities across the country and why she believes change is urgently needed. Topics covered: alcohol addiction, alcohol delivery, alcoholism, grief, family loss, sobriety, recovery, addiction awareness, public health, campaigning, Alcohol Change UK, End the Delivery Trap, UK alcohol policy, and alcohol harm. If you've ever wondered why some people can't "just stop drinking", or you've watched someone you love become trapped by alcohol addiction, this episode is for you. Alex's story is heartbreaking, but it isn't rare. It shines a light on a growing issue affecting families across the UK and asks difficult questions about the role of instant alcohol delivery, public health, and the systems surrounding addiction. Whether you're sober, sober curious, supporting someone in recovery, or simply want to better understand the realities of alcohol harm, this conversation offers compassion, insight, and a powerful call for change. So, get comfy. Pull up a chair. Come sit with us. This is The Sober Seat. 🎧✨ New episodes every Wednesday at 8PM. Make sure you follow The Sober Seat and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Find us on socials: @aish_thesoberseat @thesoberseatpod END THE DELIVERY TRAP campaign -

    1hr 3min

  4. 26 May

    Alcoholism, Drugs and Codependency| How The Swinging Scene Once Wasn't Just a Storyline

    In Part Two of this episode, Bernadette opens up about the blurred line between fiction and lived experience. What once became material for storytelling was, at one point, the reality she was surviving inside. Behind the parties, relationships and chaos was something far darker: emotional dependency, addiction, dissociation and a growing loss of self. What looked exciting from the outside slowly became survival disguised as freedom. This episode explores: • Alcohol and drug use as coping mechanisms • Codependency and toxic relationship dynamics • Dissociation and emotional numbness • The psychological link between trauma and addiction • Losing identity through survival mode • Rock bottom, treatment and the moment everything stopped feeling sustainable • Turning lived experience into storytelling, honesty and recovery Bernadette reflects on the environments she normalised, the patterns she mistook for connection, and the difficult process of separating survival from identity. Because sometimes the hardest part isn’t hitting rock bottom. It’s realising how long you called it home. This conversation sheds light on the quieter, often invisible side of addiction, the part that starts long before anyone notices there’s a problem. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from yourself, stuck in cycle of Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Or Toxic Codependent relationships you can’t explain. Like you’ve been surviving more than living, desperate to get Sober. this episode is for you. So, get comfy. Pull up a chair. Come sit with us. This is The Sober Seat 🎧✨ New episodes every Wednesday at 8PM. Make sure you follow The Sober Seat and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Where to find us on Socials @aish_thesoberseat @thesoberseatpod @bernadettefrancis_

    1hr 5min

  5. 20 May

    Alcohol, Drugs & Toxic Men | How Dissociation and Survival Mode Turned an Addict Into an Author

    This week on The Sober Seat Pod, in Part One of a Two Part Episode. Bernadette Francis shares the reality behind alcohol, drugs, and toxic relationships, and how years spent in survival mode slowly blurred into addiction, dissociation, and emotional shutdown. What looked like a fast-paced, party-filled lifestyle on the outside was actually a cycle of coping, numbing, and trying to survive internal chaos. She opens up about how dissociation became a normal state of being, how substance use fitted into that pattern, and how toxic relationships reinforced it all. This episode explores how addiction is often not the starting point, but a response to emotional overwhelm, trauma patterns, and survival mechanisms that go unrecognised for years. We also follow the turning point, the slow awareness that something had to change, and how that same lived experience eventually became the foundation for finding voice, identity, and becoming an author. In this episode, we cover: • Dissociation and emotional numbness as survival responses • Alcohol and drug use as coping mechanisms • Toxic relationship patterns and emotional dependency • Living in survival mode and losing sense of identity • The hidden link between trauma and addiction • The shift from self-destruction to self-awareness • How lived experience can be transformed into purpose and storytelling This conversation sheds light on the quieter, often invisible side of addiction, the part that starts long before anyone notices there’s a problem. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from yourself, stuck in cycles you can’t explain, or like you’ve been surviving more than living, this episode is for you. So, get comfy. Pull up a chair. Come sit with us. This is The Sober Seat 🎧✨ New episodes every Wednesday at 8PM. Make sure you follow The Sober Seat and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Where to find us on Socials @aish_thesoberseat @thesoberseatpod @bernadettefrancis_

    54 min

  6. 13 May

    Alcohol Alternative Spirals Into A Kratom Addiction | 12 Bottle a Day Feel Free Addiction

    This week on The Sober Seat Podcast, Jasmine shares the truth behind her experience with Feel Free Tonic — the viral “wellness” drink containing kratom that she says quickly turned from a sobriety aid into a hidden addiction. What started as a small blue bottle sold in gas stations and wellness stores became something she relied on every single day. From withdrawals and secrecy to isolation and dependency, Jasmine opens up about how quickly something marketed as “natural” began taking over her life. In this episode, we unpack the growing controversy surrounding Feel Free, the wider conversations around kratom addiction, and why more people online are speaking out about their experiences. This conversation explores the reality of addiction that doesn’t always look dangerous from the outside, the stigma surrounding “legal” substances, and how easily wellness culture can blur the lines between healing and dependency. We talk about: • Feel Free Tonic and kratom explained • Hidden addiction and dependency • Withdrawal, secrecy, and isolation • Sobriety and substance replacement • Wellness culture and addiction concerns • Recovery, honesty, and finding hope again If you’ve seen the little blue bottles online or in your local convenience store, this is a conversation you need to hear. So, pull up a chair & come sit with us. 🪑✨ This is The Sober Seat. New episodes every Wednesday at 7PM 🎙️

    1hr 10min

  7. 7 May

    Drug Addiction & Psychosis | The Cocaine, Alcohol & Stripper Lifestyle Behind It All

    This week on The Sober Seat Pod, Alice shares the reality behind the party lifestyle, the stripping industry, and the dangerous cycle of cocaine and alcohol addiction that slowly led her into self-destruction. What looked glamorous from the outside was masking chaos behind closed doors. From normalising heavy partying and substance use within nightlife culture to losing herself completely in addiction, Alice opens up about the emotional toll, the isolation, and the moment she realised something had to change. This episode is an honest conversation about addiction, survival, shame, recovery, and rebuilding your identity after rock bottom. In this episode, we cover: • The reality behind the glamour of the stripping industry • How partying culture normalised cocaine and alcohol misuse • Addiction, escapism, and emotional numbness • The impact addiction had on mental health and self-worth • Shame, secrecy, and living a double life • Hitting rock bottom and choosing sobriety • Healing, recovery, and rebuilding life after addiction This conversation shines a light on the parts of addiction people rarely talk about openly, especially within industries where substance use becomes part of the culture. If you’re struggling with cocaine addiction, alcohol dependency, party lifestyle burnout, or navigating your own recovery journey, this episode is for you. So, get comfy. Pull up a Chair. Come Sit with us. This is The Sober Seat 🎧✨ New episodes every Wednesday at 7PM Make sure you drop The Sober Seat a follow and turn your notifications on so you never miss an episode. Where to find us on Socials ⬇️⬇️⬇️ @aish_thesoberseat @thesoberseatpod @findingwonderland3

    58 min
  8. Opiate Addiction| 100 Pills a Day | A Mothers Secret Addiction That Nearly Took Everything

    10 Apr

    Opiate Addiction| 100 Pills a Day | A Mothers Secret Addiction That Nearly Took Everything

    Abby’s story is raw, honest, and impossible to ignore. In this episode of The Sober Seat Podcast she opens up about the lasting impact of parental abandonment, how it shaped her relationship with addiction, and the weight of shame and stigma she carried for years. From navigating motherhood while struggling, to confronting the dark realities of substance dependence, once a drug that provided confidence and "safety" Abby shares what it really looks like behind closed doors. This conversation explores the link between trauma and addiction, the toll it takes on mental health and family life, and what it takes to finally break the cycle. We talk about: • Childhood trauma and its role in addiction • Shame, stigma, and silent struggles • Motherhood and addiction • The reality of substance dependence • Mental health and recovery • Finding hope through sobriety If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns you don’t fully understand… this one will hit home. There is a way out. And this is what it can look like. So, pull up a chair & come sit with us. This is the The Sober Seat New episodes every Wednesday at 7PM

    1hr 18min
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About

I’m Aish, and this is The Sober Seat. A podcast changing the way addiction is viewed and recovery is talked about, because addiction doesn’t always look like addiction. By 27, I was a round-the-clock drinker, trying to fit in and navigate life with undiagnosed AuDHD, while feeling misunderstood and disconnected even in a room full of people. Through raw stories and honest conversations with people who have rebuilt their lives, this podcast explores sobriety, recovery, mental health, and what it means to rebuild a life in your 30s and beyond. For the high-functioning, the hidden struggles, the sober curious, the affected others, and anyone who has ever felt unseen or misunderstood Because recovery isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about finally feeling comfortable being who you are. And what a sobering thought it is… that there are seats waiting for you at tables you’re yet to discover, and you’ll quickly realise they’re exactly where you belong. So pull up a chair. Come sit with us.

Information

  • Creator
    The Sober Seat | With Aish
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Sober Seat | With Aish
  • Show Website
    The Sober Seat

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