Why do high-flying CEOs, investors, and ultra-successful leaders, people with every resource at their fingertips, still end up stuck, lonely, and reaching for a drink? In this episode, Anna Donaghey is joined by Lindsey Frances, a leadership psychologist. Together they unpack the universal experience of feeling trapped by drink, the myth that outer success delivers inner fulfilment, and why human suffering pays no attention to your bank balance. Is the pull to drink really about stress, status, or socialising, or is it something deeper: unmet needs for purpose, connection, and calm? As Lindsey and Anna discover, real change starts with a single question: what are you truly thirsty for? Highlights: 00:00 Intro: High achievers & high-functioning alcohol use 02:03 What boardrooms and AA rooms have in common 05:15 The trap: shame, disconnection, and feeling unworthy 06:09 Why suffering feels the same in £1000 shoes or 99p flip-flops 09:36 Success as an external “cage”; failing on the inside 12:14 Coping at the top: alcohol and other numbing strategies 13:32 Addiction is disconnection, so what comes first? 15:13 Alcohol as a (false) shortcut to connection and significance 17:06 What are people really thirsty for? Purpose, enough-ness, & joy 22:30 Why high achievers can’t just “stop” 26:12 Sophrology and imagining a life beyond work (and drinking) 30:27 What does constant “fight or flight” feel like? 36:31 Why you can’t biohack your way out of pain 40:08 Universal issues, whether you run hedge funds or trim hedges 45:08 Simple, accessible tools for regulating your nervous system 48:01 “Simple, but not easy”: choosing your hard 49:20 Lindsey’s own journey - making sense of emotions after quitting 54:09 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s story: why sobriety trumps career success 54:55 Serving others, and the real sources of flourishing 55:23 Where to find Lindsey Frances and resources for sophrology Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy! Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/ The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/ If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do. Connect with Anna: Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink Produced by winteraudio.co.uk About Lindsey Frances: Lindsey Frances is a clinical sophrologist, legacy and wealth psychologist, preventative health expert and data-led performance coach, helping high performers, CEOs and investors master financial and emotional stress, sleep and self-regulation through a unique blend of sophrology, biometrics and behaviour change psychology. In 2021, she opened a private sophrology cabinet on the Alpine French-Swiss border, where she has since guided clients ranging from cross-border executives and athletes to burnout recoverers towards calmer nervous systems and more sustainable performance. Connect with Lindsey: Website: https://www.lindseyfrances.co.uk/
