Laughs without Lager

Ali and Meg
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Laughs Without Lager  is a podcast about life beyond alcohol—honest, heartfelt, and lots of laughs. Hosted by Ali and Meg, two Australian women living alcohol-free, they explore the real experiences that come with choosing freedom from alcohol. From early challenges to deeper conversations around trauma, healing, and identity, this is a space for growth, connection, and support. Their conversations are honest and authentic.  Whether you’re alcohol free, sober-curious, or somewhere in between, you’re welcome here—no judgment, no hangovers, just real talk and shared stories.

  1. 3D AGO

    Surviving Christmas and New Year AF!

    Send us a text Holiday parties, family tables, and New Year countdowns can feel like a maze when you’re choosing not to drink. We open up about what actually helps: the tiny moves that protect your peace, the scripts that end awkward pressure, and the plans that turn a long season into something you might finally enjoy. From the first work do to Boxing Day, we unpack real moments—food truck delays, sugar swaps, old triggers—and show how a simple plan can keep you grounded, social, and home safe. We start with work parties, where moderation myths collide with empty stomachs and top-ups. Our go-to strategy: drink in hand from the start, eat early when possible, and lean on activities that shift attention from pouring to playing. Curiosity becomes a superpower; when you notice that “first glass” glow in others without chasing it yourself, you claim back the night. Moving to Christmas Day, we offer a festive non-alcoholic punch, BYO boundaries, and the power of hosting to stay busy, connected, and clear. Games, swimming, backyard cricket—giving the day a rhythm makes it easier to say no without feeling left out. We also dig into the deeper stuff: family friction, the pull of old rituals, and the quiet pride of waking up clear. There’s hard-won honesty here—the years we drank through the good parts, the meals we skipped, the mess we woke to—and the relief of doing it differently now. Looking ahead, we talk New Year’s Eve without the pressure to perform, setting intentions instead of brittle resolutions, and the structure of Dry January with coaching, community, and momentum that lasts past January 1. If you’re alcohol-free curious or protecting a hard-won streak, you’ll find tools you can use tonight. Ready to design a calmer, happier holiday season? Hit play, grab an AF drink, and plan your best December yet. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review—your words help more people find a clear path through the holidays. Meg's Dry January - FORWARD TOGETHER https://www.elizaparkinson.com/forwardtogether Contact Us: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 Ali insta: https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ bookclub: https://www.alcoholfreedom.com.au/unwinedbookclub Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

    24 min

  2. DEC 5

    Alcohol and toxic friendships

    Send us a text We unpack how alcohol glued unhealthy friendships together, why sobriety exposed toxic patterns, and how learning to respond instead of react rebuilt our boundaries and our circles. Some ties faded, stronger ones deepened, and we found new friends who match our values, not our pour. • booze-bonded friendships and enabling • toxic comments normalized by drinking • fear of confrontation and people-pleasing • shifting from reacting to responding • accountability and letting go of anger • spotting jealousy, digs and red flags • codependence and performance drinking • losing alcohol-only friends without regret • keeping deeper friends and finding new ones • raising standards, dating yourself and safety Meg's Dry January - FORWARD TOGETHER https://www.elizaparkinson.com/forwardtogether Contact Us: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 Ali insta: https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ bookclub: https://www.alcoholfreedom.com.au/unwinedbookclub Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

    27 min

  3. NOV 22

    Life outside our comfort zone!

    Send us a text What happens when you take the mic, skip the “liquid courage,” and tell the truth anyway? We open up about two moments that reshaped our confidence: MCing a 90th birthday with shaking hands and a full heart, and saying yes to a day at the races with people we barely knew. No shortcuts, no numbing—just the kind of presence that turns fear into evidence that you can handle more than you thought. The stories are small and seismic. A speech becomes a bridge between mother and daughter, where sobriety transforms old resentment into real connection. A social invite that once would’ve required a pregame turns into a simple, joyful experiment: pick the horses by name, laugh at the losses, and leave clear-headed and proud. That momentum carries into a primary school reunion, where karaoke and reconnection feel natural without a drink in hand. Along the way, we talk about how alcohol used to work until it didn’t—how it made us selfish, loud, and far from who we wanted to be—and how removing it gave us back choice, presence, and the energy to celebrate others. If you’re rethinking your relationship with alcohol, curious about building confidence without a crutch, or just hungry for proof that courage grows by doing, this conversation offers practical hope. We share the wins, the wobbles, and the simple moves that add up: speak even when your hand shakes, say yes to the thing that scares you a little, and let the afterglow become your new feedback loop. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review telling us the next brave step you’re taking. Meg's Dry January - FORWARD TOGETHER https://www.elizaparkinson.com/forwardtogether Contact Us: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 Ali insta: https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ bookclub: https://www.alcoholfreedom.com.au/unwinedbookclub Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

    26 min

  4. NOV 7

    Why I Stopped Drinking Alcohol: Nostalgia, Loss, And Choosing Presence

    Send us a text What if the ache you feel when life moves on isn’t a problem to fix, but a compass pointing you back to what matters? That question sits at the heart of this solo story from Meg, where nostalgia, fear of loss, and the bittersweet nature of change collide with the choice to live fully—without alcohol. We trace the hidden logic that once drove her to drink: the unbearable awareness that moments pass, kids grow up, and chapters close. Meg shares how a lifelong love of photographs turned into a paradox—chasing memories while missing the moment—and how blackouts stole the very days she wanted to keep. A chance encounter with Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart provided a vocabulary for bittersweet and nostalgia, helping her see that memory often edits out the hard parts. By reframing the past and naming feelings accurately, she found room to breathe in the present. From there, the conversation turns practical. Meg walks through the exact tools that keep her alcohol-free: treating cravings as signals, asking “what do I need right now,” choosing connection over isolation, moving her body to regulate stress, and gently updating old beliefs that say the best is behind her. Teaching her youngest to drive becomes a vivid example of the shift—from anxiety and grief to gratitude and presence—one breath and one moment at a time. The result is a grounded kind of freedom: clear mornings, real memories, and confidence to face change without numbing. If you’ve ever felt pulled between longing and living, this story offers language, structure, and hope. Hear how to honor the past without getting stuck there, create memories you’ll actually remember, and build a sober life that can hold all your feelings. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help others find these tools. Your next present moment is waiting—come join us. Meg's Dry January - FORWARD TOGETHER https://www.elizaparkinson.com/forwardtogether Contact Us: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 Ali insta: https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ bookclub: https://www.alcoholfreedom.com.au/unwinedbookclub Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

    17 min

  5. OCT 24

    Sober School Holidays

    Send us a text What if the school holidays weren’t a blur of recovery but a season you actually remember? We get honest about how alcohol once ran the schedule—stacking holiday programs to make space for hangovers, leaning on sleepovers and grandparents, and calling it “normal.” Then we map the upgrade: sober camping trips that count even when it’s just one night, late-night teen pickups without the panic, and family milestones—like a 90th birthday—where every laugh lands because we’re truly there. We unpack the lie that celebrations need booze. If the grand final, Melbourne Cup, or a Sunday barbecue is genuinely fun, why did we need to drink to enjoy it? That question opened a door. Some traditions stayed; others didn’t. We talk about rebuilding relationships without blame, how anger and resentment dissolved when our bodies finally had capacity, and why presence beats perfection every time. The wins are simple and huge: clear mornings, steady energy, better sleep, and memories that stick. You’ll hear practical ways to make school break feel like a break: slow walks to spot spring flowers, easy meals, earlier nights, reading in peace, and plans you can keep because you’re not recovering from last night. We also tackle friendships formed around drinking, the shift to choosing people by values instead of volume, and the relief of being the reliable ride when your teens call at 11 p.m. If you’re sober-curious or already alcohol-free, this is a grounded, hopeful look at what changes when you swap numb for presence. If this resonated, follow the show, share with a friend who might need it, and leave a quick review—it helps others find their way here. What’s one tradition you’re ready to rewrite? Meg's Dry January - FORWARD TOGETHER https://www.elizaparkinson.com/forwardtogether Contact Us: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 Ali insta: https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ bookclub: https://www.alcoholfreedom.com.au/unwinedbookclub Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

    31 min

  6. OCT 10

    Navigating events Sober

    Send us a text A bag of manure, a wrong funeral procession, and two friends laughing so hard their faces hurt—this is a story about how fun didn’t vanish when the wine did. We crack open the invisible rules that used to run our lives: the bar tab at weddings, the “you deserve it” drinks after pregnancy, the designated‑driver resentment, the “check your texts” dread. Instead of preaching, we talk honestly about what changed: connection got louder, shame got quieter, and ordinary Sundays started to feel like a win. We contrast the quiet respect of a Greek funeral with the rowdy Australian wake, and what it meant to be present—truly present—when a 6 a.m. call brought scary news. We revisit messy nights (tequila at a school fundraiser, anyone?), the paranoia and people‑pleasing that alcohol amplified, and the relief of drawing boundaries and leaving toxic friendships. Along the way we explore sober curiosity, alcohol‑free socializing, hangover recovery, and how the joy of missing out can replace FOMO when you choose clarity over coping. Sober fun isn’t a theory here; it’s a quiz night with belly laughs, a Thailand trip without the logistics of booze, and Sunday rituals that restore instead of repair. We share practical wins—better sleep, cleaner relationships, fewer apologies, more energy—and the small comforts that help: a big pot of curry, football, and delightfully trashy TV that doesn’t require a recovery day. If you’re rethinking your relationship with alcohol, craving fewer hangovers and more real connection, you’ll find stories, strategies, and a lot of heart. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review—your support helps others find an alcohol‑free path to real joy. Meg's Dry January - FORWARD TOGETHER https://www.elizaparkinson.com/forwardtogether Contact Us: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 Ali insta: https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ bookclub: https://www.alcoholfreedom.com.au/unwinedbookclub Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

    30 min

  7. SEP 26

    Sober Party People: How to have fun Without Alcohol!

    Send us a text Alcohol freedom doesn't mean the end of fun—it's the beginning of something far more authentic and expansive. In this eye-opening conversation with Kim Raysmith, founder of Sober Party People and retreat host, we dive deep into what it really takes to reclaim joy without liquid courage. Kim's journey begins with a familiar struggle: "I wanted to be sober like I wanted a hole in my head." For years, she chased the elusive "moderation fairy," convinced that her inability to control her drinking was simply a character flaw. With refreshing honesty, she shares how the birth of her youngest son created the perfect storm that forced her to confront her relationship with alcohol. What makes this conversation so valuable is Kim's candid admission that early sobriety was miserable. Far from the instant transformation often portrayed in sobriety narratives, she describes her first sober work event as "an out-of-body experience" where she was simply going through the motions. The magic formula? Doing things three times. "You've got to break the seal," she explains, describing how we need to create new neural pathways for experiences without the dopamine hit from alcohol. The most powerful moment comes when Kim describes the clarity that eventually arrives—what she calls being "sucked out of the Matrix." Suddenly seeing alcohol culture from the outside reveals how limited that world really is. In contrast, sobriety opened doors to new friendships, hobbies, and experiences she never would have discovered while drinking. Whether you're sober-curious or years into your alcohol-free journey, Kim's practical strategies for navigating social situations and her description of hosting retreats where people have genuine fun without drinking will inspire you to expand your own definition of what makes a good time. As she wisely notes, "A shit night out is a shit night out, whether you're pissed or not—you're just numbing yourself through it." Ready to break out of the matrix and discover what lies beyond the bottle? This conversation might just be your first step toward a more authentic, connected, and genuinely fun life. Meg's Dry January - FORWARD TOGETHER https://www.elizaparkinson.com/forwardtogether Contact Us: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 Ali insta: https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ bookclub: https://www.alcoholfreedom.com.au/unwinedbookclub Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

    37 min

  8. SEP 12

    From Self-Sabotage to Self-Love: Faye's Sober Journey

    Send us a text Valentine's Day typically conjures images of romantic love, but for Faye Hughes, it became the day she finally chose self-love over self-destruction. Flying back to Australia after a family wedding gone wrong, shame and regret weighing heavy on her shoulders, Faye made a life-altering decision to commit to sobriety that would transform every aspect of her life. Faye's story begins with childhood impressions of alcohol as the centerpiece of fun and connection, watching her mother's parties and absorbing the unspoken family fear of inherited alcoholism. By fifteen, she was already experiencing blackouts, setting the stage for years of progressively problematic drinking through university, hospitality jobs, and eventually her move to Australia, where drinking intensified away from family oversight. What makes this conversation particularly powerful is Faye's raw honesty about the toll alcohol took on her relationships and self-worth. Her brothers had blocked her on social media, unable to witness her drinking behavior. She describes the constant cycle of shame, regret, and anxiety that made genuine self-love impossible. "It's not possible to build self-love when you're constantly living in shame, guilt, and regret," she explains, referencing a breakthrough moment in her understanding. Now two and a half years sober, Faye shares the practical tools that helped her rebuild her relationship with herself: self-compassion practices, breathwork for nervous system regulation, daily affirmations, and recognizing how dramatically reduced her stress levels became when she eliminated alcohol-induced problems. Perhaps most touching is how her sobriety journey reconnected her with her mother, who followed Faye into sobriety six months later, creating a beautiful bond where they now share sobriety resources and support. Through her program "Sober Glow Up in 100 Days," Faye now helps others experience the transformation she's lived, combining sobriety support with self-love practices. Her story reminds us that sometimes the greatest act of love is choosing yourself over behaviors that no longer serve you. Ready to transform your relationship with alcohol and yourself? This episode offers both inspiration and practical guidance for your journey. Meg's Dry January - FORWARD TOGETHER https://www.elizaparkinson.com/forwardtogether Contact Us: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/podcast-1 Ali insta: https://www.instagram.com/idontdrinkfullstop/ Meg website: https://www.meganwebb.com.au/ insta: https://www.instagram.com/meganwebbcoaching/ bookclub: https://www.alcoholfreedom.com.au/unwinedbookclub Connect AF: https://www.elizaparkinson.com/groupcoaching

    34 min
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About

Laughs Without Lager  is a podcast about life beyond alcohol—honest, heartfelt, and lots of laughs. Hosted by Ali and Meg, two Australian women living alcohol-free, they explore the real experiences that come with choosing freedom from alcohol. From early challenges to deeper conversations around trauma, healing, and identity, this is a space for growth, connection, and support. Their conversations are honest and authentic.  Whether you’re alcohol free, sober-curious, or somewhere in between, you’re welcome here—no judgment, no hangovers, just real talk and shared stories.

Information

  • Creator
    Ali and Meg
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Laughs without Lager
  • Show Website
    Laughs without Lager

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