Sober looks great on you

Abigail Sanders

Please join me in this podcast series that discusses what it means to be a sober woman in your 50's and how to manage your mental and physical health with tips from me and special guests on diet & nutrition.

  1. Sep 20

    Hidden in Plain Sight | Steve Mitchell – Part One: Recovery, Identity & Transformation

    Hidden in Plain Sight | Steve Mitchell – Part One From the Army to the Stage: A Journey of Recovery, Identity and Transformation In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, I sit down with the wonderful Steve Mitchell for an open and honest conversation about life, identity, recovery and personal transformation. Steve has lived many lives. From serving in the Army to becoming the frontman of a band, he has experienced life through many different roles. He is a husband, father, grandfather, author, mindset coach and mentor, but behind those titles is a man with a powerful story to share. Throughout our conversation, Steve reflects on his personal relationship with alcohol, his experiences with substance use and his journey into recovery. He speaks openly about the impact these experiences have had on his life, the challenges he has faced and the changes he has made along the way. We also explore neurodiversity, the importance of understanding ourselves, and how our experiences can shape our identity, behaviour and relationships. Now in his fifties, Steve shares how he has transformed himself both physically and mentally, and how his own journey has inspired him to support others through his work as a mindset coach, mentor and author. This is a conversation about much more than recovery. It's about self-discovery, personal growth and recognising that, regardless of our age or past experiences, we can continue to evolve, challenge ourselves and create a life that feels meaningful to us. Because sometimes the greatest transformation isn't about becoming someone new. It's about discovering who you truly are. Disclaimer This episode contains discussions around alcohol, substance use, addiction, recovery, mental health and neurodiversity. The views, opinions and experiences shared by Steve Mitchell are his own and reflect his personal journey. His experiences with alcohol and substances are individual to him and should not be interpreted as representative of everyone else's experiences. The discussion around neurodiversity is based on personal experiences and perspectives and is not intended to provide a clinical assessment or diagnosis. The content of this podcast is intended for general information, awareness and personal reflection. It does not constitute medical advice, psychological treatment or professional guidance. If you are experiencing difficulties with alcohol, substance use or your mental health, please seek support from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Please note: If you are physically dependent on alcohol, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Seek medical advice before making changes to your alcohol consumption. Hidden in Plain Sight – Real people. Real stories. Real conversations. Hosted by Abi Sanders | Integrative Change Practitioner 🌐 www.abisanders.co.uk 📧 contact@abisanders.co.uk Perfect, Abi! ❤️ That's your YouTube channel link for Hidden in Plain Sight. I'll use this one for your Steve Mitchell podcast posts and future episode announcements: https://youtube.com/@abigailsanders_hips?si=7QVQUI-36xq2IUHv

    Hidden in Plain Sight | Steve Mitchell – Part One: Recovery, Identity & Transformation
  2. Sep 9

    Episode 9-Chris Burton: Part Two | From Millions to Losing Everything — And the Diagnosis That Changed Everything

    EPISODE 9 | HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT Chris Burton: In Conversation — Part Two | Losing Everything & The Diagnosis He Wishes He'd Had Years Ago In Part One, Chris Burton took us through the earlier chapters of a life that would eventually see him build successful businesses and become a multimillionaire. In Part Two, the story takes a very different turn. Chris talks candidly about the breakdown of his marriage, losing the life and financial security he had worked to build, and the numerous court appearances and legal proceedings that became part of his world. He shares his perspective on an extraordinarily turbulent period involving family, relationships, money, the justice system and the consequences of watching the life he knew unravel around him. But Chris's story didn't end when he lost everything. Years later came a diagnosis that caused him to look back at his entire life differently — and one he says he wishes he had received many years earlier. What happens when the things you believed defined you disappear? And what happens when, years later, you finally receive an explanation for parts of yourself you never fully understood? This is Part Two of my conversation with Chris Burton, author of Target: Be Careful What You Wish For. 📖 READ THE BOOK Chris's memoir, Target: Be Careful What You Wish For, is available to purchase online. Search for "Target – Chris Burton" through major online booksellers to find the book and read Chris's story in greater detail. ⚠️ CONTENT WARNING This episode contains discussion of addiction, alcohol and drug use, alleged abuse, marriage and family breakdown, infidelity, financial loss, legal proceedings and family court matters. Some listeners may find these subjects distressing. DISCLAIMER This episode contains Chris Burton's personal recollections, experiences, opinions and interpretation of events. References to other individuals, relationships, allegations and legal or court proceedings are presented from Chris's perspective and should not be understood as independently verified statements of fact. The purpose of this conversation is to allow Chris to discuss his own experiences and story in his own words. Inclusion within Hidden in Plain Sight does not constitute endorsement or independent verification of any allegation or disputed account discussed during the episode.

  3. Sep 5

    Chris Burton — Part One: From Millions to Losing Everything

    EPISODE 8 | HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT Chris Burton — Part One: From Millions to Losing Everything Chris Burton is the author of Target, a memoir chronicling a life filled with extraordinary highs, devastating lows and more than a few unexpected twists. At one point, Chris had built successful businesses, made millions and was living a life that, from the outside, looked like success. Then everything changed. In Part One of our conversation, we go back to the beginning. Chris talks about his early life, the experiences that shaped him, his relationships, his drive to succeed and the journey that eventually took him from building considerable wealth to losing almost everything. We also explore some of the more difficult chapters of his story — including addiction, family relationships, conflict, the breakdown of his marriage and his experiences within the legal and family court systems. There are a lot of layers to Chris's story, and very little about it is straightforward. Whatever your background, there is likely to be something within this conversation that makes you think about success, identity, relationships, resilience and just how quickly a life can change. And this is only Part One. 📖 READ CHRIS'S STORY Chris Burton's book, Target: Be Careful What You Wish For, is available to buy now in paperback and eBook formats from major online booksellers. Search "Target – Chris Burton" or use ISBN 9781036989804 to find the paperback. Target tells Chris's story in greater depth — from his early life and search for belonging, through extraordinary financial success, family relationships, addiction, betrayal, legal battles and ultimately the loss of the life he had built. CONTENT WARNING This episode contains discussion of addiction, alcohol and drug use, abuse, relationship and family breakdown, infidelity, legal proceedings and family court matters. Some listeners may find these subjects distressing. DISCLAIMER This conversation reflects Chris Burton's personal recollections, experiences, opinions and interpretation of events, as described by him and in his memoir Target. Where other individuals, relationships or legal matters are discussed, these represent Chris's account and should not be understood as independently verified statements of fact. The purpose of this conversation is to provide a platform for Chris to tell his story in his own words; it is not intended to determine the truth of disputed events or allegations.

  4. Sep 1

    Hidden in Plain Sight | Steve Mitchell – Part Two: Reinvention & Life Beyond Addiction

    Hidden in Plain Sight | Steve Mitchell – Part Two: Recovery, Reinvention & Life Beyond Addiction In Part Two of my conversation with Steve Mitchell, we move beyond the story of addiction and deeper into what recovery, change and transformation can actually look like. Steve also opens up about what it means to be a man in environments where vulnerability hasn't always felt easy. Drawing on his years in the Army, we talk about the pressure on men to hold things together, the difficulty of expressing what's really going on underneath, and why creating space for honest conversations between men matters. Our conversation also touches on suicide and some of the darker places people can find themselves when they feel unable to talk about what they're going through. What happens when you've spent years learning to be strong, capable and resilient — but nobody ever really taught you how to say, "I'm struggling"? Please be aware: this episode contains discussion around addiction, substance use and suicide, which some listeners may find difficult. Steve reflects around a decade of life without alcohol and substances, and the changes that have taken place during that time — not simply giving something up, but rebuilding his life, changing his mindset and continuing to evolve both physically and mentally. We talk about positive change, personal responsibility and the work that can happen long after the initial decision to become sober. Steve also shares more about the life he has created today, his family, his move to France and the perspective that comes from looking back at how far you've travelled. As an author, mindset coach and mentor, Steve now uses his own experiences to support and encourage others who want to make changes in their own lives. This second part is ultimately a conversation about life after recovery — about identity, growth, possibility and proving that your past doesn't have to dictate what comes next. Because recovery isn't simply about what you leave behind. It's also about what you choose to build in its place. Disclaimer This episode contains discussion of alcohol, substance use, addiction, recovery and mental health. Steve shares his own personal experiences and perspectives throughout this conversation. His journey is individual to him and should not be taken as medical, psychological or professional advice, or as representative of everyone's experience of addiction or recovery. If you are concerned about your alcohol or substance use, please seek advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. If you are physically dependent on alcohol, stopping suddenly can be dangerous and medical advice should be sought before making changes to your alcohol consumption. Hidden in Plain Sight — real people, real stories, real conversations. Hosted by Abi Sanders | Integrative Change Practitioner

  5. Aug 30

    Rachel Flynn: Part 1-Losing the Weight, Finding Herself & What Came After | Hidden in Plain Sight

    PART 1-What happens when you finally change your body — but realise that was never the whole story? In this episode of Hidden in Plain Sight, I sit down with Rachel Flynn for an incredibly open conversation about weight loss, body image, identity, neurodiversity and learning who you are when the person staring back at you has completely changed. Rachel shares her experience of having a gastric band, losing a significant amount of weight and later undergoing skin removal surgery. But reaching the goal she had worked towards didn't suddenly make everything else fall into place. We talk about the emotional reality of dramatic weight loss, the challenges that surfaced afterwards, and the process of having to rediscover who Rachel was without her weight defining so much of her identity. Rachel also speaks openly about ADHD, rejection sensitivity and receiving a diagnosis later in life — and how finally understanding the way her brain worked helped her make sense of experiences she'd carried for years. It's a conversation about the part of transformation we don't talk about enough. Because changing what we see on the outside doesn't automatically heal what's happening underneath. Hidden in Plain Sight — real people, real stories, and the things we don't always see. 🎥 Prefer to watch? Hidden in Plain Sight is also available on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@abigailsanders_hips?si=yxS76p48LLJxLd7l ⚠️ Content note: This episode includes discussion of weight, weight-loss surgery, body image, eating behaviours, ADHD and mental health. Some listeners may find these subjects difficult or triggering.

  6. Aug 26

    James Roffey Part Two: Infidelity, Infertility & Rebuilding After Life Falls Apart | Hidden in Plain Sight

    James Roffey returns for Part Two of Hidden in Plain Sight. In Part One, James shared his journey from professional football into anorexia and bulimia, and the devastating impact losing the future he'd imagined had on his identity. But his story didn't end there. In Part Two, our conversation moves into another chapter of James's life — relationships, infidelity, fertility struggles, injury and the emotional impact of experiencing setback after setback. We talk openly about betrayal, loss, identity and what happens when the things you thought your life would be built around don't work out as planned. And perhaps most importantly, we explore what it takes to keep rebuilding. Because resilience isn't about never being knocked down. Sometimes it's simply about finding a way to get back up when life looks nothing like you thought it would. Another honest, unfiltered conversation about the experiences we don't always see behind the person standing in front of us. Hidden in Plain Sight — real people, real stories, and the things we don't always see. 🎥 Prefer to watch? Hidden in Plain Sight is also available on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@abigailsanders_hips?si=yxS76p48LLJxLd7l ⚠️ Content note: This episode contains discussion of eating disorders, infertility, infidelity, relationship difficulties and mental health, which some listeners may find difficult or triggering.

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Please join me in this podcast series that discusses what it means to be a sober woman in your 50's and how to manage your mental and physical health with tips from me and special guests on diet & nutrition.