The Big Drink Rethink

Anna Donaghey
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

The Big Drink Rethink is a podcast for anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol - whether you want to quit, drink less, take a break, or just explore the role alcohol plays in your life. Hosted by Alcohol Mindset Coach and Author, Anna Donaghey, each episode blends lived experience, psychological insight, and powerful tools to help you create change - gently, intelligently, without pressure, and in a way that opens up your life. Featuring expert guests, real stories, and practical strategies, this podcast offers a refreshingly smart, non-judgemental space to reflect, grow, and explore the life you want. Because rethinking your drinking isn’t about missing out. It’s about tuning in. It’s not about restriction - it’s about making space. To feel clearer, live more fully, and ask one honest question: What are you really thirsty for?

  1. Ep 129: What Does Curiosity Look Like This Summer? | Alcohol Coaching

    2d ago

    Ep 129: What Does Curiosity Look Like This Summer? | Alcohol Coaching

    What if summer didn't have to be scripted by booze? In this solo episode, Anna Donaghey answers a listener's question: "What does it actually mean to get curious about my drinking this summer?" Anna dismantles "summer scripts", the invisible associations between alcohol and fun, relaxation, or connection. Instead of forcing abstinence or restriction, she offers a gentle, practical process: What are you really looking forward to at each event? What job are you asking alcohol to do? What meaningful moments might you notice if you step out of autopilot? Whether you want to quit, cut back, or just understand your habits, this is about empowered choice, not deprivation. Expect relatable validation, zero judgment, and practical reflection tools you can use straight away. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: Anna welcomes listeners to a summer Q&A episode 01:30 Listener question: “What does being curious mean?” 02:20 How curiosity became Anna’s most powerful tool 03:54 How watching, noticing, and observing can make occasions richer 05:25 The energy drain of strict “quitting” vs. the freedom of curiosity 06:29 How the drinks industry scripts our summer 09:06 What are your “summer scripts”? 10:53 Why simply SEEING the script changes everything 12:17 Practical reflection: Questions to ask before, during, and after events 15:26 What job are you giving alcohol? Stress relief, connection, or ritual? 18:11 Experimenting with non-drinking, not as a rule, but as a test 19:28 What do you remember about these events? 20:41 Setting a feeling-based intention for your summer 22:12 Tiny experiments that help you learn what you really want 24:06 Pick one event this summer to do differently 26:23 How one curious occasion can change your entire perspective 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 Mentioned in this episode: Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar

    28 min
  2. Ep 128: Rewriting the Summer Drinking Script | Rethinking Alcohol |

    Jun 18

    Ep 128: Rewriting the Summer Drinking Script | Rethinking Alcohol |

    What if summer didn’t have to be “powered by” alcohol? In this episode, Anna Donaghey invites sobriety and life coach, Casey McGuire Davidson, to unpack why the summer and its long evenings, and sunny terrace, feels so tangled with the urge to drink. Is it really about the Aperol Spritz… or are we longing for something deeper, like freedom, nostalgia, or a younger version of ourselves? Together, they challenge the myth that summer is for “letting go” and drinking, and instead explore the possibility that these months could offer more: clarity, energy, presence, and real joy. If you’re worried you’ll be missing out or feel resistance to change, this episode delivers validation, surprising science, and practical ways to romanticise sobriety rather than alcohol. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: Why is summer so “loaded” with drinking? 01:04 Meet Casey McGuire Davidson: podcast host & ex-corporate high-achiever 04:47 How we don’t realise how much we’re missing by focusing on alcohol 07:10 Romanticising alcohol vs. romanticising sobriety 08:29 Sober travel: what’s really possible when you’re present 10:40 The discomfort and magic of your first sober summer 12:17 The “sober summer bucket list” approach 13:11 Why summer is the best time to rethink your drinking habits 16:42 Are we craving the drink, or a lost version of ourselves? 23:42 How the drinks industry scripts our summer fantasies 27:09 Alcohol’s real deception: convincing us we’re not enough without it 28:00 “Why isn’t this moment enough?” Getting honest about cravings 30:15 The science behind why alcohol seems to make us happier 37:09 The “joy of missing out”: freedom, energy, and real presence 41:00 What’s the biggest surprise on the other side? 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 Casey McGuire Davidson: Casey McGuire Davidson is a Life & Sobriety Coach, speaker, and host of the Top 100 Mental Health show The Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women. Featured on Good Morning America, NPR, HuffPost, The New York Times, NBC News and more, she helps high‑achieving women change their relationship with alcohol so they can drink less and live more. Connect with Casey: Website: Hello Someday Coaching Podcast: The Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women Instagram: @caseymdavidson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelloSomeday/ Mentioned in this episode: Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar

    44 min
  3. Ep 127: Same Feeling, Different Fix: Co-dependency Explained | Rethinking Alcohol |

    Jun 11

    Ep 127: Same Feeling, Different Fix: Co-dependency Explained | Rethinking Alcohol |

    What if sobriety was just the beginning, not the destination? In this episode, Anna Donaghey sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Sarah Michaud, who draws on over 40 years of recovery and professional experience to explore the deep link between codependency, control, and unfulfilled needs. While getting sober is a huge step, Sarah reveals why the work often starts after the drinking stops as we swap one “fix” for another: relationships, work, food, or anything to soothe an uneasy mind. Together, they explore where codependency begins, how it shows up in everyday choices (from dinner to major life patterns), and why true freedom starts with honesty, first with yourself, then with others. If you find yourself always looking outside for relief or suspect that “people pleasing” is costing you your peace, this episode offers validation, hope, and practical first steps toward a healthier relationship with yourself. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: Recovery is about more than drinking 00:51 Meet Dr. Sarah Michaud: psychologist, author, and 42 years sober 03:20 Getting sober didn’t fix everything; the real work starts after alcohol 06:01 The cycle, looking for the next relationship, job, or fix 12:05 What is codependency? Explained simply, and why it matters 13:33 A brief history: codependency in addiction recovery 14:23 The inability to be yourself out of fear of others’ reactions 21:01 How unmet needs drive both drinking and codependency 22:30 Childhood patterns, why we bring old survival tactics into adulthood 24:07 Why many people swap addictions after sobriety 33:37 How community and reality checks break denial 35:00 Compassion is essential, but so is responsibility for your experience 50:17 You can know the truth and still take your time deciding what to do 52:54 “I am responsible for my thoughts, feelings, and behaviours” 54:42 Start by letting go of one thing you do for others 56:58 Don’t scroll past self-recognition; this is where the work starts. 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 Dr. Sarah Michaud: Dr. Sarah Michaud is a clinical psychologist who has worked in the field of addiction and co-dependency for over 30 years. She is also the author of One psychologist's recovery from co-dependency and addiction: A memoir and manual for freedom. She has been sober for over 40 years and brings her humour, directness, compassion and insight to support folks in recovery. She is also the cohost of a youtube channel called Leaving Crazytown with her best bud Finn where they talk all things recovery and have lots of laughs. Connect with Sarah: Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar

    59 min
  4. Ep 126: BONUS EPISODE: The Version Of You On The Other Side with the Gavin Sisters | Rethinking Alcohol |

    Jun 9 ·  Bonus

    Ep 126: BONUS EPISODE: The Version Of You On The Other Side with the Gavin Sisters | Rethinking Alcohol |

    What if rethinking your relationship with alcohol wasn't about restriction, but about discovering a new version of yourself? Anna Donaghey introduces a raw and funny conversation between the Gavin Sisters, who went from "beer-swigging, Chinese takeout comedy double act" to thriving, teetotal vegan wellness entrepreneurs. Starting with Sharon's health crisis, the Gavin Sisters share how identity naturally shifts when you let go of the rituals that no longer serve you. Through illness, single motherhood, and career shakeups, they show how quitting drinking can open up a bigger life. If you worry you won't be "you" without alcohol, this episode offers a hopeful, relatable new script. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: The “identity question” behind drinking habits 02:14 The Gavin Sisters’ old routine: comedy, wine, and takeout 04:08 Sharon Gavin’s illness, diagnosis, and the wake-up call 08:19 Loretta Gavin on why she couldn’t imagine life without alcohol 10:40 How pressure and pain pushed both sisters to make a change 11:45 Why quitting alcohol was the “biggest needle mover” 14:35 Firsts: sober holidays, Christmas, hens, and the surprising joy 16:07 Sobriety doesn’t fix everything but it brings energy for real problems 22:15 How stories about “who you are” can limit or liberate you 25:02 Key advice for anyone in an identity shift: give it time 28:37 Sharon Gavin on seeing wine as “anxiety in a glass” 29:00 Fourteen years alcohol-free: real freedom and zero regrets 30:00 Why it’s okay to just give up for a month 30:45 Gratitude for Anna Donaghey and the journey 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 the Gavin Sisters: Sharon and Lauretta are an acclaimed comedy double act who have appeared in numerous TV and stage productions and written plays for the West End. They went from red wine-drinking, Chinese take-out aficionados to advocates of a plant-based lifestyle. Sharon's diagnosis of a rare autoimmune disease was the turning point. Covered head to toe in a chronic rash and at times wheelchair-bound, with her husband gone and Lauretta, also a single mum, stepping in to care for them all, the sisters transformed their lives together. They transitioned to a plant-based diet, gave up alcohol and processed foods, and Lauretta retrained as a natural vegan chef. Sharon is now off all medication and back running. In 2018 they set up The Detox Barn, named by Condé Nast as one of the best wellness retreats in the UK for 2023 and 2024, and later launched Funki Coffee and the Gavin Sisters Wellness Show podcast. Connect with the Gavin Sisters: Website: https://gavinsisters.co.uk/ The Detox Barn: https://gavinsisters.co.uk/pages/retreats-the-detox-barn Mentioned in this episode: Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar

    33 min
  5. Ep 125: Breaking The 'Wine O'clock' Habit | Alcohol Coaching |

    Jun 4

    Ep 125: Breaking The 'Wine O'clock' Habit | Alcohol Coaching |

    Is your evening drink a true choice or just a well-worn ritual your brain expects at the end of every day? Your host Anna Donaghey breaks down the hidden psychology behind the “wine o’clock” habit. She explains the science of habit loops, why willpower alone can’t break the cycle, and offers a step-by-step framework for gently rewiring your automatic drinking response. Discover practical, compassionate tools to recognise your real needs and build a life that genuinely satisfies them with no white-knuckling required. If you feel stuck in the routine of pouring a drink as the sun goes down, this episode shows you how (and why) to change the script. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: Why we reach for a drink between 5–7pm 01:24 The “witching hour” and the automatic pull toward alcohol 02:18 What is a habit loop? 04:26 The craving isn’t for alcohol, it’s for relief, calm, and transition 06:14 Understanding neural pathways and why habits feel automatic 08:21 The reward script: why your brain believes drinking is the solution 09:19 Why willpower doesn’t work at “wine o’clock” 21:33 What did you drop when alcohol became the answer? 22:24 A new way through the evening, one day at a time 23:46 Listen to Ep 124 with Beverly Meyer (GABA + the biology of stress) 24:50 Find all the resources on Anna’s website, www.thebigdrinkrethink.com. 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 Mentioned in this episode: Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar

    26 min
  6. Ep 124: Wired, Tired, and Reaching for Wine | Rethinking Alcohol and Your Nervous System

    May 28

    Ep 124: Wired, Tired, and Reaching for Wine | Rethinking Alcohol and Your Nervous System

    What if that evening glass of wine isn't just a habit, but your body reaching for balance it's missing elsewhere? Anna Donaghey is joined by certified clinical nutritionist Beverly Meyer to decode the neuroscience behind our relationship with alcohol, specifically GABA, the nervous system's key calming neurotransmitter, and why modern life is quietly depleting it. Beverly shares practical, food-first strategies to genuinely restore GABA levels and explains why your body is always trying to help you, never sabotage you. If you've ever wondered, "Why can't I just say no to that drink?", this episode is for you. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: Alcohol and why nervous system regulation matters 01:06 Meet Beverly Meyer: clinical nutrition and the missing GABA link 05:14 GABA 101: The neurotransmitter explained in plain English 10:05 Does alcohol “pretend” to be GABA? 12:22 Are you GABA deficient before you ever pick up a drink? 16:24 When alcohol “parks” on GABA receptors and why that matters 18:13 Alcohol as a solution, not the problem- the real story about depletion 20:00 Changing the drinking conversation 21:09 Why food matters most 25:00 Paleo eating and asking “What did humans evolve to eat?” 28:18 Why Beverly ditched Wi-Fi and breakfast cereal 40:09 Herbal strategies for sleep and stress 45:27 Your body is on your side, learn to listen and support it 47:15 Where to find out more. 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 Beverly Meyer: Beverly Meyer is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) who has been in practice since 1985. Her journey into functional health began in the 1970s when, facing a debilitating virus that traditional medicine couldn't resolve, she sought out alternative practitioners - and never looked back. Hospitalised twice with Epstein-Barr Virus and living with chronic pain, hormonal issues, severe anxiety and poor sleep, she didn't just study these conditions. She lived them. In 2016, told to put her affairs in order after a mysterious health crisis, Beverly did what she has always done - researched her way to an answer, identifying a rare genetic disorder herself and finding the treatment she needed. Today she shares her knowledge through her website, consultations, and her long-running podcast Primal Diet - Modern Health, and is particularly known for her work on sleep, anxiety and the adrenals. Beverly’s website contains hundreds of articles, a free eBook, a newsletter and an online store that offers supplements to support a huge range of health needs Find out more: https://www.ondietandhealth.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar

    50 min
  7. Ep 123: How Big Is Your World? | Rethinking Alcohol |

    May 21

    Ep 123: How Big Is Your World? | Rethinking Alcohol |

    What if alcohol isn’t just a habit, but quietly shrinking the size of your world, dulling joy, and making ordinary pleasures feel like “not enough”? In this solo episode, Anna Donaghey shares honest insights from her own journey, exploring how drinking can subtly narrow both what you do and how much you feel. She unpacks the concept of the “hedonic threshold,” showing why your favourite activities may start feeling flat, and how even small milestones (like a child’s birthday) come to feel incomplete without a drink. Anna also gets real about what happens when you start to cut down: why everything can feel dull at first, why that’s normal, and how given time, colour and excitement quietly returns to the things you love. This episode is for anyone curious about changing the way they think about alcohol. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Intro: When the world starts to shrink 01:19 The subtle ways alcohol “shrinks” your world 04:44 When joy becomes muted and life feels flat 06:14 The hedonic threshold: Why dopamine matters 07:55 Why ordinary pleasures start feeling not enough 09:53 The key questions to ask yourself 10:15 How activities drop away when drinking more 11:46 When drinking becomes the point 12:35 A sharp illustration: Prosecco at a one-year-old’s birthday 16:27 Why giving up alcohol feels flat at first 17:59 How your world starts to expand again 19:32 A gentle prompt: Is your world quietly contracting? 20:03 How to connect, find resources, and support. 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 Mentioned in this episode: Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar

    21 min
  8. Ep 122: Building a Life You Don't Want to Escape From | Rethinking Alcohol |

    May 14

    Ep 122: Building a Life You Don't Want to Escape From | Rethinking Alcohol |

    What if rethinking your drinking didn’t start with “giving up” alcohol, but instead you created the kind of life you don’t want to escape from? In this episode, Anna Donaghey sits down with adventurer and educator Belinda Coker to explore how rediscovering adventure, nature, and forgotten passions can quietly make alcohol fade into the background, no willpower or rock bottoms required. They talk honestly about growing up with normalised drinking, the “aha” moment that prompted Belinda to get hiking boots back on, and now teaching others how action, not theory, builds real confidence. She shares practical advice from her own journey, how immersing herself in adventure, house-sitting, and creativity helped her let go of drinking, and how to navigate tricky emotions (and triggers) in sobriety. Whether you’re just curious, stuck in a rut, or ready for a big change, this story has uplifting lessons for anyone wanting a richer, more expansive life with or without alcohol. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Meet Belinda Coker: Rethinking drinking isn’t always about alcohol 01:25 Belinda’s story: adventure, midlife, and rediscovering passions 02:58 Realising I had a drinking problem, only in hindsight 05:19 Divorce, difficult periods, and drinking to cope 07:00 Hiking becomes the new reward 10:22 What adventure offers that alcohol can’t 11:27 How new routines slowly nudged out drinking 13:43 Returning to what you loved before alcohol 14:41 When Friday nights become about flow, not wine 18:12 Simple living, big happiness (and saving money) 20:47 Why Belinda finally chose to stop drinking alcohol for good 21:30 Recognising emotional triggers for drinking 23:31 How she handles hard days now 28:00 Why being honest about difficulties matters 29:55 The “hike your own hike” philosophy for sobriety 36:19 Out in the wild: zero desire for a drink 41:29 How to get unstuck 42:26 Where to find Belinda Coker and her work. 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 Belinda Coker: Belinda Coker is an Australian hiker, writer, and educator who helps women rebuild confidence through practical adventure and responsible travel. She has completed solo hikes from Australia’s Red Centre to crossing Greenland’s Arctic Circle, experiences that shaped her belief that confidence grows through action, not theory. Through her platforms, Soul Treader and The House Sitting Collective, she teaches how structure, trust, and responsibility create genuine freedom and stability in life. Connect with Belinda: Website: https://soultreader.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar

    46 min
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5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

The Big Drink Rethink is a podcast for anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol - whether you want to quit, drink less, take a break, or just explore the role alcohol plays in your life. Hosted by Alcohol Mindset Coach and Author, Anna Donaghey, each episode blends lived experience, psychological insight, and powerful tools to help you create change - gently, intelligently, without pressure, and in a way that opens up your life. Featuring expert guests, real stories, and practical strategies, this podcast offers a refreshingly smart, non-judgemental space to reflect, grow, and explore the life you want. Because rethinking your drinking isn’t about missing out. It’s about tuning in. It’s not about restriction - it’s about making space. To feel clearer, live more fully, and ask one honest question: What are you really thirsty for?

Information

  • Creator
    Anna Donaghey
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Anna Donaghey
  • Show Website
    The Big Drink Rethink

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