Life without Lager

Ali
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  • Health & Fitness

Life Without Lager  is a podcast about life beyond the bottle —navigating the 'messy middle' of being human.  Hosted by Ali, ex trash-bag, former party parent. Ali has been booze-free for five years. With lived experience, a healthy dose of humour and absolutely no b******t, Ali explores the realities of life without larger, from the early challenges of sobriety to deeper conversations about healing, identity, personal growth, plant medicine and everything in between! This is a space for honest conversations, shared experiences, uncomfortable truths and figuring shit out as we go. Whether you're alcohol-free, sober-curious, or simply curious about living differently, you're welcome here.

  1. 4d ago

    Rock Bottom To Recovery with Ryan

    Send us Fan Mail A kid who is told he belongs downstairs grows up learning one brutal lesson: stay small, stay quiet, and don’t need too much. Ryan (Rock Bottom With Ryan) joins us to share how that kind of childhood isolation, combined with social anxiety and constant self-doubt, set him up to fall in love with alcohol the first time it made him feel “good in his own skin.” What starts as confidence quickly becomes a plan for lifelong addiction, and Ryan doesn’t sugarcoat how fast that bargain turns. We also talk about the grief that can break a person in half. Ryan opens up about his sister’s addiction, the role prescription opioids played, and the terrifying moment he walked into a hospital room and realized she was overdosing. He shares what it’s like to get the midnight call later, the numbness that followed, and how unprocessed grief can fuel isolation, overwork, and relapse even when you think you’re “handling it.” From there, Ryan takes us through the progression of alcohol use disorder: the “functional” years, quitting a job, day drinking, hiding alcohol, withdrawals, injuries, and a seizure that finally forced a choice. The turning point in rehab comes from an unexpected assignment, writing a goodbye letter to his sister and reading it out loud, then building a relapse prevention plan and committing to AA meetings. We also get into recovery community, trauma education, and how purpose returns when you stop trying to survive your own life. If you or someone you love is sober curious, in recovery, or stuck in the loop of relapse and regret, this conversation offers real hope and clear next steps. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the line that hit you hardest. Contact Us:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 meganwebbcoaching@gmail.com Ali insta:  https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

  2. Oct 9

    Jason Knight's journey of strength, courage and vulnerability.

    Send us Fan Mail He looks successful on paper: an IT leader, a dedicated dad, a person who “should” have it together. But behind closed doors, alcohol becomes the nightly escape hatch and then the cage. Jason Knight joins me to tell the truth about how social drinking quietly turned into dependence, how shame and self-talk kept him stuck, and what it took to stop living a double life. We get into the real mechanics of alcohol addiction and recovery: why stress drinking feels like relief, why tolerance creeps up, and why the hardest part is often the loneliness of thinking you’re the only one. Jason shares the turning point when alcohol stopped bringing any joy, plus the practical mindset changes that helped him start rebuilding trust with himself. We also talk about This Naked Mind’s The Path, the early “pause,” and how self-compassion can be more effective than white-knuckle willpower for getting alcohol-free. One of the most powerful parts of our conversation is vulnerability. Jason describes talking with his daughters about the impact of his drinking, facing generational trauma, and learning healthier tools for anxiety, stress relief, and mental health. If you’re sober curious, trying to quit drinking, or rebuilding after years of self-medication, this story offers hope without sugarcoating the work. If this resonates, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Jason is more than happy to be contacted to share the ups and downs of his journey to alcohol freedom. You can contact him here:  jasonrossknight72@gmail.com Contact Us:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 meganwebbcoaching@gmail.com Ali insta:  https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

  3. Sep 25

    Present and Sober with Ellie Crowe

    Send us Fan Mail Alcohol doesn’t have to “ruin” your life to quietly shrink it. We sit down with Ellie Crow from the Present and Sober podcast to talk about the moment she learned how alcohol works in the brain and body and suddenly couldn’t unsee it. When the “relaxing drink” is followed by stress hormones, anxiety, and that restless late-night agitation, quitting stops feeling like punishment and starts feeling like logic.  From there, the conversation turns into what we’re all really chasing: space. Space to hear yourself, space to create, space to stop tolerating a life that doesn’t fit. We unpack the beliefs we’re sold about booze, why gray area drinking can be the hardest place to get honest, and why the most powerful question is not “How bad is it?” but “Is this good enough for me?” Ellie also shares a hopeful view on dopamine and pleasure, and how a simple 30-day alcohol-free break can reveal exactly where alcohol has been holding you back.  We also go into the courage piece: discomfort as a sign of growth, saying yes to what scares you, and letting purpose show up without forcing it. We reflect on sober retreats as a fast track to real connection without the social masking, then Ellie gives a peek at her upcoming Bali retreat with Kim Ray Smith, including goddess practice, breathwork, sound baths, and how to bring that grounded confidence home to regular life.  If this hits home, listen through, share it with a friend who’s been questioning their drinking, and subscribe so you don’t miss what we’re building next. After you listen, will you try one alcohol-free experiment and tell us what you notice? Contact Ellie Crowe for information about Bali retreat April 2027:  Ellie@pumpupthepresent.com Link to book Bali retreat: https://calendly.com/kim_raysmith/30min?month=2026-09 Contact Us:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 meganwebbcoaching@gmail.com Ali insta:  https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

  4. Sep 11

    From Trauma to Recovery: Charmaine Wilson Psychic Medium

    Send us Fan Mail Alcohol can look like comfort right up until it starts taking everything. We’re joined by Charmaine, a well-known Australian psychic medium, for a raw conversation about alcohol addiction, grief, trauma, and the hard moments that force real change. Her story runs through childhood harm linked to drinking, teen years where the bottle feels like confidence, and the kind of loss that rewires your entire life: her young daughter killed in a car crash caused by drunk driving.  We talk honestly about what grief drinking actually does. Yes, it numbs. And yes, it can feel like the only way to survive the night. But Charmaine breaks down how alcohol also compounds grief, stretches out healing, and pushes you into risk you never planned to take, including blackout drinking and the terrifying realization that “one is never enough” when you don’t have a stop button. We also get into relapse, the myth of moderation, and why “I stopped getting hangovers” can be a serious warning sign, not a win.  This isn’t a tidy recovery story. It includes addiction substitution, why AA didn’t work for her, a 9 11 turning point, and a liver health scare that finally made sobriety non-negotiable. Charmaine also shares what helps now: zero-alcohol options, new routines, music as a release, and the purpose she’s built through mediumship and helping people through grief. If you’re searching for alcohol addiction recovery tools, relapse prevention insight, or a real talk on sobriety and grief, this conversation delivers.  If it hits home, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway or the myth about drinking you’re done believing. Contact Us:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 meganwebbcoaching@gmail.com Ali insta:  https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

  5. Aug 27

    From Heroin & Prison to 17 years Sober: Danny Shannon

    Send us Fan Mail The moment you realize you can’t “just have one” can feel isolating, but it can also be the start of a life that finally fits. I’m flying solo on Laughs Without Lager and sitting down with Danny Shannon, a recovery advocate who speaks with raw honesty about addiction, total abstinence, and what it takes to rebuild from the ground up. Along the way, we also pause to celebrate a huge win: Ali’s five year soberversary!  Danny’s story is intense and specific: heroin at 15, years in custody, and a long cycle of detox and rehab that included 49 attempts. Then he walks us through the turning point, a Christmas Day choice where he plays the tape forward and does the one thing he’d never done before, change his mind and go back to rehab. We talk about relapse prevention in plain language, why early recovery can feel like FOMO, and how joy returns when you stop relying on alcohol and drugs to laugh, cope, or belong.  We also get practical about the “now what” part of sobriety: cutting ties that pull you backward, building healthy relationships, using therapy, and putting real daily work behind your recovery. Danny shares what he’s building today, including Encapsulator, a guided journaling app designed to help you document fears, hopes, and goals privately, plus his Recovery and Beyond program that combines structured learning with reflection and accountability.  If you’re searching for real-world recovery stories, addiction recovery tools, and a reminder that an alcohol-free life can be bigger, not smaller, hit play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Contact Us:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 meganwebbcoaching@gmail.com Ali insta:  https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

  6. Aug 14

    What If Boredom Is Your Breakthrough?

    Send us Fan Mail “Am I boring now that I don’t drink?” That one thought can undo a whole week of feeling proud, especially when you’re six months alcohol-free and the party invites keep rolling in. We read a listener message from Mel and get honest about the weird social edge of early sobriety: the stigma, the self-judgment, and the fear that you’ll be less fun without a drink in your hand.  We talk about what actually changed for us when we quit drinking and why alcohol often just numbs boredom instead of creating real connection. We share the practical stuff that makes social events easier, like choosing gatherings you genuinely enjoy, focusing on people and activities instead of the bar, and giving yourself permission to leave once everyone starts getting sloppy. We also swap real-life examples of sober fun, from trivia nights and pickleball to markets, brunch, and a surprising confidence boost through karaoke.  Then we go deeper into the mindset work that makes sobriety stick. We unpack the beliefs that keep people stuck, what “dry drunk” white-knuckling looks like, and how reframing boredom can open the door to creativity, purpose, and calmer nervous system regulation. We also name the hidden costs of alcohol that get normalized, like low mood, broken sleep, and losing whole weekends to hangovers.  If you’re sober curious, newly sober, or wondering how to socialize without alcohol, this one will steady you. Subscribe, share it with a friend who needs the reminder, and please leave a review so more people can find us. Contact Us:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 meganwebbcoaching@gmail.com Ali insta:  https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

  7. Jul 31

    Gray Area Drinking, Clear Head: Life After Alcohol with Sarah Rusbatch

    Send us Fan Mail Wine o’clock can look harmless until you realize you’re using it to get through your life, not celebrate it. I sit down with sobriety coach and author Sarah Rusbatch to talk about “gray area drinking,” the space where you don’t identify as an alcoholic, but you also know your drinking has stopped feeling healthy, free, or optional. Sarah shares her path from early teen drinking and a booze-normal work culture to the massive identity shift that can hit with motherhood, moving countries, loneliness, and possible postpartum depression. We dig into how alcohol marketing targets moms, why “I deserve this” becomes a script, and how quickly a bottle-of-wine habit gets normalized when everyone around you is doing the same thing. We also get real about the moment the math changes, when it’s no longer mostly fun, and starts becoming mostly anxiety, poor sleep, shame, and recovery days. We go deep on what makes midlife different: perimenopause, changing metabolism, and the way alcohol can intensify stress and mental health symptoms. Sarah explains why quitting often takes more than willpower, why moderation can keep us stuck, and how structured support like an alcohol-free challenge can give you real data, better tools for stress, and a clearer sense of who you are without booze. We also talk about Beyond Booze, sugar swaps, dopamine cravings, and how to rebuild a bigger life on the other side. If you’ve been quietly wondering, “Is it time?”, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. Contact Us:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 meganwebbcoaching@gmail.com Ali insta:  https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

  8. Jul 17

    Breaking The Nightly Habit: Now 11 Years Alcohol Free with Kari

    Send us Fan Mail Wine can sneak into your life wearing a friendly mask: playdates, dinner prep, “just one glass,” a reward for getting through the day. Kari doesn’t sugarcoat what happened when that mask slipped. She shares how drinking started young, followed her through a messy college era, and later threaded itself into motherhood and remarriage until it became an every-night habit she couldn’t outthink or “moderate” her way out of. We get into the moment that finally changed her trajectory: getting seriously sick after mixing alcohol with medication, then realizing she still went right back to drinking. Instead of waiting for a bigger disaster, Kari took a small but powerful step a 60 day fitness challenge with one personal rule written on a wall for everyone to see. That decision turned into a year, then into 11 years alcohol free. Along the way, she navigated the first sober Christmases, birthdays, vacations, and the uncomfortable social phase when people don’t know how to drink around you. Kari also connects sobriety to women’s health in midlife, especially perimenopause and menopause. We talk about how alcohol can amplify symptoms like poor sleep, headaches, fatigue, and weight gain, and why quitting often makes other healthy habits finally “stick.” She shares what changed in her friendships, how she shows up more patiently for her kids and grandkids, and what her strength training, walking, nutrition, and sleep routine looks like now. If you’ve been curious from the sidelines, this conversation offers honesty without judgment and a roadmap built on real life, not perfection. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review telling us what part of Kari’s story hit home for you. Contact Us:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 meganwebbcoaching@gmail.com Ali insta:  https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website:  https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

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About

Life Without Lager  is a podcast about life beyond the bottle —navigating the 'messy middle' of being human.  Hosted by Ali, ex trash-bag, former party parent. Ali has been booze-free for five years. With lived experience, a healthy dose of humour and absolutely no b******t, Ali explores the realities of life without larger, from the early challenges of sobriety to deeper conversations about healing, identity, personal growth, plant medicine and everything in between! This is a space for honest conversations, shared experiences, uncomfortable truths and figuring shit out as we go. Whether you're alcohol-free, sober-curious, or simply curious about living differently, you're welcome here.

Information

  • Creator
    Ali
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Life without Lager
  • Show Website
    Life without Lager

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