Sober Awkward

soberawkward

Winner, Best Well-Being Podcast at The Australian Podcast Awards 2024 Have you ever woken up after a big night out and declared, “I’m never drinking again,” only to find yourself waving $50 at a barman by Happy Hour? Yep, Vic’s been there too. Join Victoria Vanstone, award-winning podcaster, author, and former binge-drinking party animal, as she explores what it’s really like to be sober in a world absolutely soaked in alcohol. Each week on Sober Awkward, Vic dives into boozy topics, social pressures, anxiety, identity wobbles, and the messy reality of quitting drinking, opening up the shame shed of humiliating stories so you don’t have to feel alone in yours. With humour, honesty, and zero judgement, Vic tells it like it is, from vomit and one-night stands to life on the other side of destructive drinking. If you’ve hit a wall, you’re fed up with anxiety, headaches, and blackouts, or you’re just quietly sober-curious, pop the kettle on and learn how to feel the awkward, and do it anyway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. When Booze Becomes Part of Belonging – with Karl Considine

    23 min ago

    When Booze Becomes Part of Belonging – with Karl Considine

    For many LGBTQ+ people, the pub wasn’t just somewhere to grab a drink—it was one of the few places where they could safely be themselves. For decades, bars and clubs became places of acceptance, community and belonging. But when alcohol becomes woven into your identity and social life, what happens when you decide to stop drinking? For many people, giving up alcohol means changing what they drink. For many LGBTQ+ people, it can also mean changing where they belong. This week, Victoria sits down with Karl Considine, public speaker, advocate and Ambassador for Alcohol Change UK. Karl has become one of the leading voices in the UK’s alcohol-free movement, using honesty, humour and lived experience to challenge old ideas about sobriety. Karl is helping a new generation build confidence, connection, and identity without alcohol. Through his work, he has helped show that a life without alcohol isn’t about missing out—it’s about creating more connection, joy and possibility. Together, they explore the powerful relationship between booze and queer culture. They discuss why LGBTQ+ communities experience higher rates of alcohol and substance misuse than the general population, the role discrimination and minority stress can play, and why creating alcohol-free spaces has never been more important. It’s an honest conversation about identity, connection, loneliness, community and what it means to build a life where you don’t need alcohol to feel like you belong. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or simply curious about why our relationship with alcohol is shaped by so much more than willpower, this episode is full of compassion, insight and plenty of laughs along the way. 💛 Resources & Links Follow and Find out more about Karl head to @karlconsidine 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 https://amzn.asia/d/0aZ69GpK Vic's book 'Mumming - A year of Trying (and Failing) to be a better parent - https://amzn.asia/d/0bUJTS2W 🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  2. The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    4 days ago

    The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials -Finally Meeting Myself - By Allyson Every Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you. Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol. Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone. Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants. So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community. 💛 Resources & Links 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic. 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak https://hellosundaymorning.org https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A Gentle Reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min
  3. The Sober Boozers Club with Ben Gibbs

    28 Jun

    The Sober Boozers Club with Ben Gibbs

    This week on Sober Awkward, Vic chats to Ben Gibbs from The Sober Boozers Club about the rapidly changing world of alcohol-free beer and whether pub culture can survive a generation that’s drinking less, drinking differently, or not drinking at all. Because let’s face it, Vic used to be the kind of customer pubs loved. These days Vic walks into a pub, orders one alcohol-free beer, has a lovely chat, and leaves. Financially speaking, she’s not exactly the customer she used to be. So what does this shift mean for the hospitality industry? Can pubs, breweries and bars survive if people are only ordering one or two drinks instead of six? Is the alcohol-free movement a genuine revolution or just a passing trend? And why are so many younger people choosing not to drink in the first place? Vic and Ben also tackle one of the most debated topics in sobriety: alcohol-free beer. Is it a useful tool or a dangerous game? Should people in early sobriety avoid it altogether? What if it triggers cravings? Why does it work brilliantly for some people and not for others? Most importantly, Ben shares his experience of trying to keep all the things he loved about his old social life, the pub chats, the mates, the laughs, and the sense of belonging, while quietly removing the alcohol from the equation. Turns out, getting sober doesn’t always mean changing your entire personality. Sometimes it just means changing what’s in your glass. A fascinating conversation about identity, friendship, changing drinking culture, and whether the future of the pub might be a lot less boozy than we ever imagined. 💛 Resources & Links Follow and Find out more about Ben here - Ben Gibbs (@sober_boozers_club) 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 https://amzn.asia/d/0aZ69GpK Vic's book 'Mumming - A year of Trying (and Failing) to be a better parent - https://amzn.asia/d/0bUJTS2W 🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  4. The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    24 Jun

    The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - Alcohol, Motherhood and Me - By Emily Every Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you. Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol. Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone. Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants. So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community. 💛 Resources & Links 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic. 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak https://hellosundaymorning.org https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A Gentle Reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min
  5. Still Sober, Still Awkward

    21 Jun

    Still Sober, Still Awkward

    As a special treat to celebrate the final episode of Series 13, I’m delighted to welcome Hamish back to the podcast for a proper catch-up. Yes, he’s still sober. Yes, he’s still awkward. And yes, he’s still as funny as ever. We chat about what life has looked like since leaving the show, how sobriety is going, and what he’s learned along the way. Hamish is proof that you don’t have to be a stereotypical “problem drinker” to experience the benefits of going alcohol-free. Sometimes life simply gets bigger, better and a whole lot more interesting without booze in the driver’s seat. Expect laughs, awkward moments, a few reflections on the good old days, and a reminder of why so many of us fell in love with the lanky one in the first place. It’s great to have him back. Be warned, as per usual, there is naughty talk about bodily functions. 💛 Resources & Links 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 Buy the book here 🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min
  6. The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    17 Jun

    The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries

    The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - No More Numbing Out - By Aliz, Texas Every Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you. Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol. Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone. Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants. So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community. 💛 Resources & Links 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic. 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak https://hellosundaymorning.org https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A Gentle Reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    8 min
  7. Nangs: The Addiction Nobody Talks About with Sam Bramman

    14 Jun

    Nangs: The Addiction Nobody Talks About with Sam Bramman

    This week on Sober Awkward, Vic steps away from alcohol to explore another addiction that is quietly growing across Australia: Nangs. Nitrous oxide, often sold legally and delivered to your door within minutes, is commonly seen as harmless party fun. But for Sam Bramman, what started as a few nangs at a house party quickly spiralled into a devastating addiction that led to psychosis, hospitalisation and a long road to recovery. Sam shares the shocking reality of what happened when nitrous oxide took over his life, including the psychotic episode that saw him drive from Sydney to the Gold Coast before ending up in a psychiatric ward. He talks openly about addiction, recovery and why he believes Australia needs stronger regulation around the sale and delivery of nitrous oxide. Now the founder of the No 2 Nangs campaign, Sam is using his experience to educate young people, support families and push for change. He is also preparing to run 350 kilometres from Sydney to Parliament House in Canberra to raise awareness of the issue and campaign for greater public education around a substance he describes as both legal and lethal. It’s an eye-opening conversation about addiction, vulnerability, recovery and a drug many of us know very little about. Follow Sam’s work: Instagram: @sambramman TikTok: @stepsforchange 💛 Resources & Links 📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze. 👉 Buy the book here 🎧 Listen to more Sober Awkward episodes 👉 www.soberawkward.com 🫖 Join The Cuppa Community Our private, supportive online space for sober folk 👉 www.cuppa.community 📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way. 👉 The Sober Awkward Guide 📱 Follow us for daily sober fun: Instagram: @soberawkward TikTok: @soberawkward Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  8. The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    10 Jun

    The Share Shed: Awkward Questions & Confessions

    This week in the Share Shed, one listener wakes up to discover he’d apparently spent 40 minutes running barefoot on a treadmill at 3am… after swimming in a stranger’s pool and blacking out at a party. The only problem? He remembers none of it. A hilarious story with a surprisingly thoughtful twist about sobriety, fitness, and what happens when one obsession gets replaced by another. The Share Shed is where listeners send in their funniest, cringiest and most unbelievable drinking stories. It’s not about judgement, it’s about recognising how wild things could get when alcohol was in charge, and laughing about it now we’re on the other side. But sometimes, it’s also a place for the harder stuff, the honest bits we don’t always say out loud. If you’ve got a story you’d like to get off your chest, funny, awkward or something a bit more serious, you can send it to Vic at: vic@soberawkward.com Anonymous is absolutely fine. In fact, for legal reasons, probably preferable!! 📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES If anything in today’s Shame Shed felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support out there. You don’t have to do this on your own. 🇦🇺 Australia National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 📞 1800 250 015 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service Lifeline 📞 13 11 14 (24/7) 🌐 https://www.lifeline.org.au Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak 🌐 https://hellosundaymorning.org 🌐 https://daybreakapp.com.au Clean Slate Clinic 🌐 https://www.cleanslateclinic.com 🇬🇧 United Kingdom Drinkline 📞 0300 123 1110 🌐 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/ Alcohol Change UK 🌐 https://alcoholchange.org.uk We Are With You 🌐 https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk 🌍 International Alcoholics Anonymous 🌐 https://www.aa.org SMART Recovery 🌐 https://www.smartrecovery.org 💬 A gentle reminder If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s really important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and support can make a huge difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 min
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Hosts & Guests

About

Winner, Best Well-Being Podcast at The Australian Podcast Awards 2024 Have you ever woken up after a big night out and declared, “I’m never drinking again,” only to find yourself waving $50 at a barman by Happy Hour? Yep, Vic’s been there too. Join Victoria Vanstone, award-winning podcaster, author, and former binge-drinking party animal, as she explores what it’s really like to be sober in a world absolutely soaked in alcohol. Each week on Sober Awkward, Vic dives into boozy topics, social pressures, anxiety, identity wobbles, and the messy reality of quitting drinking, opening up the shame shed of humiliating stories so you don’t have to feel alone in yours. With humour, honesty, and zero judgement, Vic tells it like it is, from vomit and one-night stands to life on the other side of destructive drinking. If you’ve hit a wall, you’re fed up with anxiety, headaches, and blackouts, or you’re just quietly sober-curious, pop the kettle on and learn how to feel the awkward, and do it anyway. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    soberawkward
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    418
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022 soberawkward
  • Show Website
    Sober Awkward

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