THE OTI PREMIUM PODCAST

An extra weekly show from Shaz and Ben!

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Over The Influence: The Alcohol Free Podcast

Over The Influence
  • 4.9 (76)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Over the Influence, the podcast where sobriety isn't just a choice - it’s a celebration! Hosted by Sharon Hartley and Ben Anderson, both BBC professionals by day and passionate advocates for alcohol-free living by night, this is your go-to space for real, raw, and uplifting stories of what life looks like on the other side of alcohol. Each episode shines a light on inspiring, often hard-hitting journeys to sobriety. From personal struggles to incredible triumphs, we bring you heartfelt conversations with guests from all walks of life - whether they're celebrities, experts, or everyday heroes. Their stories might trigger deep emotions, but they’ll also inspire hope, empowerment, and a renewed sense of what the human spirit can overcome. Whether you're sober curious, walking your own path to sobriety, or simply looking for some inspiration, you're in the right place. Let’s talk openly about the highs, the lows, and everything in between - and most importantly, let's celebrate the joys of a vibrant, alcohol-free life together. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information shared is for general purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. If you are physically addicted to alcohol - or even think you might be - it's essential you seek qualified medical advice from your doctor or other medical professional. Stopping drinking suddenly can be very dangerous and in some cases fatal. You can find links to support services on our website here.

  1. The OTI Goodbye

    AUG 4

    The OTI Goodbye

    We've got some news to share with all of our wonderful listeners. Thank you for an amazing five and a half years, we've had an absolute blast! The podcast might be coming to an end, but we hope the message continues long after we've finished: sobriety isn't something you have to do, it's something you get to choose. Wishing you many glorious alcohol free times to come! --- Please note that we are no longer accepting new members to the Over The Influence community. --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

    48 min

  2. JUL 27 · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Premium Podcast: Holidays and Reincarnation

    Hello, and welcome to our Premium Podcast! Shaz and Ben have a varied chat this week following Ben's return from his holiday. We'd love to feature your stories, your successes, your questions, etc, etc, etc... So please do get in touch with us! You can either find us on Instagram (@alcoholfreepod) and drop us a DM in there, or you can email us directly: sharon@overtheinfluence.co.uk ben@overtheinfluence.co.uk

    26 min

  3. JUL 20 · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Premium Podcast: Old Photos & Apologies

    Hello, and welcome to our Premium Podcast! Ben was a bit too quick to dismiss one of Sharon's sober summer suggestions on last week's main pod, meanwhile Ben's wife Gem has been posting photos of him before and after going alcohol free... We'd love to feature your stories, your successes, your questions, etc, etc, etc... So please do get in touch with us! You can either find us on Instagram (@alcoholfreepod) and drop us a DM in there, or you can email us directly: sharon@overtheinfluence.co.uk ben@overtheinfluence.co.uk

    30 min
  4. Six Top Tips For Summer

    JUL 15

    Six Top Tips For Summer

    No you're not seeing dublé - Shaz and Ben have done another episode with some top tips in for if you're going alcohol free this summer and need a few ideas for how to freshen things up without alcohol. From horticulture to Vegas, this episode has it all.  --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

    43 min

  5. JUL 14 · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Premium Podcast: Mark Those Milestones

    Hello, and welcome to our Premium Podcast! Ben felt a bit of an anti-climax after his soberversary recently, so Shaz gives him a pep talk on the importance of milestones. We'd love to feature your stories, your successes, your questions, etc, etc, etc... So please do get in touch with us! You can either find us on Instagram (@alcoholfreepod) and drop us a DM in there, or you can email us directly: sharon@overtheinfluence.co.uk ben@overtheinfluence.co.uk

    20 min
  6. Team OTI: The Northumbrian Ironman Challenge

    JUL 7

    Team OTI: The Northumbrian Ironman Challenge

    This week we have two of our wonderful community members Ian and Neil on the podcast who make up two thirds of the Team OTI Ironman squad! Last weekend they took on the mighty Northumbrian Full Ironman challenge with fellow OTI community member Kelly, all to raise money for Alcohol Change UK. Now they're here to tell us all about it! We're very proud of their achievement and are absolutely delighted that they did it with OTI in their team name. If you would like to donate, you still can via justgiving.com/page/teamoti. Well done Team OTI! --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

    44 min

  7. JUL 6 · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Premium Podcast: Coastal Camper Van Capers & A Soberversary

    Hello, and welcome to our Premium Podcast! Shaz has been on her travels in Lancashire while Ben has just hit a major milestone! We'd love to feature your stories, your successes, your questions, etc, etc, etc... So please do get in touch with us! You can either find us on Instagram (@alcoholfreepod) and drop us a DM in there, or you can email us directly: sharon@overtheinfluence.co.uk ben@overtheinfluence.co.uk

    30 min
  8. Steve Smith: Soberilliant

    JUN 30

    Steve Smith: Soberilliant

    This week we have one of our own on the pod, the fantastic Steve Smith!  Steve grew up in a culture where he felt like alcohol was celebrated. Whenever something fun happened, it always seemed like booze was at the centre of it.  He became a flare bartender (all the cool acrobatics with the bottles) and actually won the Flare Bartender Championships which we have to admit, is very impressive.  Being in that industry though, it was always inevitable that a large amount of alcohol was going to be involved. Over time, it became too much and being a relatively new Dad, he decided he wanted to be as good as he could be for his kids.  Well four years into his sobriety, Steve is smashing the AF life with his new sober coaching company with one of the best names out there Sober.illiant. You can visit soberilliant.com or follow @sober.illiant on Instagram. Thanks again for coming on Steve! --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti

    48 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
76 Ratings

About

Welcome to Over the Influence, the podcast where sobriety isn't just a choice - it’s a celebration! Hosted by Sharon Hartley and Ben Anderson, both BBC professionals by day and passionate advocates for alcohol-free living by night, this is your go-to space for real, raw, and uplifting stories of what life looks like on the other side of alcohol. Each episode shines a light on inspiring, often hard-hitting journeys to sobriety. From personal struggles to incredible triumphs, we bring you heartfelt conversations with guests from all walks of life - whether they're celebrities, experts, or everyday heroes. Their stories might trigger deep emotions, but they’ll also inspire hope, empowerment, and a renewed sense of what the human spirit can overcome. Whether you're sober curious, walking your own path to sobriety, or simply looking for some inspiration, you're in the right place. Let’s talk openly about the highs, the lows, and everything in between - and most importantly, let's celebrate the joys of a vibrant, alcohol-free life together. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information shared is for general purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. If you are physically addicted to alcohol - or even think you might be - it's essential you seek qualified medical advice from your doctor or other medical professional. Stopping drinking suddenly can be very dangerous and in some cases fatal. You can find links to support services on our website here.

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