The Sober Connection

Abi King

Hosted by Abi King, an ex-daily drinker turned sobriety coach based in New Zealand, this podcast is for people who are curious about a sober life. Episodes will discuss a variety of sobriety related topics with the aim of helping people understand the dangers of a regular drinking habit. With a mixture of short "tips & tricks" episodes, and longer guest interviews, The Sober Connection podcast hopes to provide you with a glimpse into a life without alcohol, proving that being sober is anything but boring.

  1. 2H AGO

    Season 3 - Episode 7: Evenings - The Real Battle

    This week on The Sober Connection, I'm talking about evenings, because for so many people, that’s where the real battle with alcohol actually happens. The 5pm autopilot. “I deserve this.” The exhausting cycle of trying to hold it together all day… then reaching for a drink to finally switch off. In this episode, I unpack: – why evenings feel so hard – what’s actually happening in your nervous system at the end of the day – why it can feel automatic even when you genuinely want to stop – and how to start interrupting the pattern without relying on willpower alone If you’ve ever found yourself waking up determined not to drink… only to end up back in the same cycle by evening, this is a good one to listen to. Get in touch: Abi 30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/ Instagram @levelup.withabi Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz Affiliate links:  Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply) https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

    11 min
  2. Season 3 - Episode 6: My Chat with Andre Manella

    MAY 15

    Season 3 - Episode 6: My Chat with Andre Manella

    This week on The Sober Connection, I’m joined by musician Andre Manella for a really honest conversation about sobriety, touring, creativity, and navigating the music industry without alcohol. Originally from Switzerland and now based in New Zealand, Andre has spent more than 20 years performing across Europe and NZ, playing over 2000 shows throughout his career. We talk about the drinking culture that often comes with life as a musician, what changed for him around three years ago, and what it’s actually like touring sober in an industry where alcohol is everywhere. This episode explores identity, social pressure, creativity, mental health, and the reality of learning how to be fully present without relying on alcohol. Whether you’re sober curious, alcohol-free, or simply questioning your relationship with drinking, this is such an insightful conversation. Get in touch: Andre Instagram @sonicdelusion / @turkey_the_bird Abi 30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/ Instagram @levelup.withabi Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz Affiliate links:  Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply) https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

    53 min

  3. MAY 8

    Season 3 - Episode 5: The In-Between Phase Nobody Warns You About

    In this episode, I'm talking about the “in-between” phase of changing your relationship with alcohol - the part nobody really warns you about. That space where drinking no longer feels good… but not drinking still feels uncomfortable too. I share my own experience of the stop-start cycle, why so many people relapse around the 40–50 day mark, and the psychology behind why our brains fight change even when we know something isn’t working anymore. I also talk about: – why familiarity can feel safer than happiness – the mental exhaustion of moderation – grief, identity and uncertainty – why you keep getting pulled back to old patterns – and what starts to shift when you finally choose something different If you’ve ever felt stuck in the middle - not fully drinking, not fully free - this episode is for you. Get in touch: Abi 30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/ Instagram @levelup.withabi Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz Affiliate links:  Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply) https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

    11 min
  4. Season 3 - Episode 4: My Chat with Jodi Clark

    MAY 1

    Season 3 - Episode 4: My Chat with Jodi Clark

    In this episode, I’m joined by Jodi Clark, founder of Sober Flourish, who shares her journey to becoming alcohol-free. On the surface, everything looked fine - Jodi was a busy mum, successful, holding it all together. But behind the scenes, alcohol was taking up more space than she realised. We talk about:  what her drinking actually looked like the small moments that started to shift things the holiday that became a turning point how a 100-day break turned into something much biggerWe also touch on the work we both do now, supporting women who feel “fine” on the outside… but know something isn’t quite right. If you’ve been quietly questioning your relationship with alcohol, this one will hit home. Get in touch: Jodi Instagram @soberflourish Email hello@soberflourish.com Abi 30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/ Instagram @levelup.withabi Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz Affiliate links:  Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply) https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

    52 min

  5. APR 24

    Season 3 - Episode 3: Why You Keep Going Back (Even Though You Don't Want To)

    This episode is for you if you’ve ever thought… “Why do I keep going back to drinking when I know it’s not working anymore?” Because this isn’t about willpower or discipline. There’s a reason this keeps happening. Once you understand it, things start to make a lot more sense. In this episode, I share: – why drinking can feel automatic – how emotional triggers and habit loops keep you stuck – and why you keep ending up back at the start If you’ve been caught in that stop-start cycle, this will help you see what’s really going on, without shame or judgement. If this resonates and you’re ready to do things differently, you can reach out on Instagram or find more support via the link in my bio 🤍 Get in touch: Abi 30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/ Instagram @levelup.withabi Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz Affiliate links:  Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply) https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

    10 min
  6. Season 3 - Episode 2: My Chat with Paddy Gower

    APR 17

    Season 3 - Episode 2: My Chat with Paddy Gower

    In this episode, I'm joined by Paddy Gower for a really honest conversation about drinking, culture, and what actually drives change. We talk about how easy it is for drinking to feel “normal”, especially in New Zealand, and why that can make it so hard to recognise when something isn’t quite right. Paddy shares his experience of what shifted things for him, including the moment someone close to him had the courage to say something, and why that can be so powerful. We also explore:  why high-functioning drinking is often the hardest to change why so many people struggle to ask for help and what actually improves when you step away from alcoholIf you’ve ever found yourself thinking “it’s not that bad” but are also starting to wonder if something needs to change, this conversation will resonate. Get in touch: Paddy Instagram @patrickgowernz Abi 30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/ Instagram @levelup.withabi Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz Affiliate links:  Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply) https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

    55 min

  7. APR 10

    Season 3 - Episode 1: When You Know It's Not Working Anymore

    There’s a moment that doesn’t get talked about enough - the one when everything still looks fine on the outside but deep down, you know something isn’t working anymore. In this episode, I’m talking about that quiet turning point. The awareness that your drinking isn’t quite where you want it to be, even if it doesn’t look like a “problem” from the outside. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in that in-between space - not bad enough to change, but not feeling good enough to stay the same - this one’s for you. This is the first episode in a new series where I’ll be walking you through: – why you keep going back – what’s actually driving the habit – why moderation can feel so exhausting – and what starts to change when you do things differently So if this episode resonates and you’ve had that moment of thinking “this isn’t really working anymore” - stay with me. Get in touch: Abi 30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/ Instagram @levelup.withabi Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz Affiliate links:  Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply) https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

    10 min
  8. Season 2 - Episode 20: My Chat with Ryan Nel

    FEB 19

    Season 2 - Episode 20: My Chat with Ryan Nel

    In today’s episode, I am joined by Ryan — also known as The Sober Kiwi — to talk about his journey with alcohol, what led him to make a change, and what life looks like on the other side. What I love about this conversation is how real and grounded it is. There’s no big dramatic story here — just honest reflections on mindset, habits, and the quiet shifts that can completely change the direction of your life. We talk about:  What his relationship with alcohol used to look like  The moment things started to shift  The realisation that it's the first drink that often gets us into trouble What early sobriety was actually like for him  How his identity, health, and daily life have changed since going alcohol-free  And what it’s like choosing sobriety in a culture where drinking is still so normalised Ryan also shares his perspective as someone who’s experienced different drinking cultures, and how that’s shaped his journey. If you’ve ever found yourself questioning your relationship with alcohol — but not quite sure where you fit — this episode will feel very relatable. Get in touch: Ryan Instagram @ryanthesoberkiwi Abi 30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/ Instagram @levelup.withabi Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz Affiliate links:  Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=abi My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply) https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2404910 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2

    45 min
See All (47)

Ratings & Reviews

About

Hosted by Abi King, an ex-daily drinker turned sobriety coach based in New Zealand, this podcast is for people who are curious about a sober life. Episodes will discuss a variety of sobriety related topics with the aim of helping people understand the dangers of a regular drinking habit. With a mixture of short "tips & tricks" episodes, and longer guest interviews, The Sober Connection podcast hopes to provide you with a glimpse into a life without alcohol, proving that being sober is anything but boring.

Information

  • Creator
    Abi King
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Sober Connection
  • Show Website
    The Sober Connection

You Might Also Like