The Wonderfully Sober Podcast With Nina

Annie has been sober since December 2021. Growing up with six siblings as the only adopted child, hers was an extremely happy upbringing. From a young age, she shouldered most of the domestic duties in the family home to alleviate the burden on her hardworking parents. But also, she now realises, to please them. This desire to please has unquestionably informed her relationship with alcohol, which only really began at university. Thereon in, the pub was the place to find acceptance - and, of course, have much, much unashamed fun. When she met her smart, cool, charismatic husband, drinking was a big part of their courtship, and just one of many sparks in a hugely exciting romantic adventure. Then they became parents, and what once brought them together slowly started pulling them apart. Find out more about Annie, her background and her work here.Nina's Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now 45, Shakira began her sober journey in October 2024 - a long time after she started partying in Hackney at the tender age of 12! Initially, she intended to take a brief hiatus from her regular (and excessive) drinking to alleviate her brutal perimenopausal symptoms. But then, as she ticked off alcohol-free day after alcohol-free day, Shakira not only realised she could live without it, but also that she was flourishing in its absence. A single mum to Mia, she is a fully qualified personal trainer, hula fitness instructor and wellbeing coach, who specialises in helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause. Find out more about her on her Instagram and her websiteNina's Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate is co-founder of Sobr in Aberdeen, Scotland's only alcohol free bar. Now in her 30s, she has endured serious health issues throughout her life, after she contracted E-coli when she was 3, causing her kidneys to fail. She has since had two transplants. Excessive drinking numbed the trauma of her childhood, and provided a hedonistic release after numerous extended stays in hospital. The time came, however, when she stopped liking the person she became as a result of the repeated binges she'd embark upon. Here we explore her extraordinary story, and find out why she wanted to launch her award-winning bar, and what makes it special.Nina's Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah is a coach specialising in shame - often in the context of a problematic relationship with alcohol. It goes without saying the two are unhealthy bedfellows. The cycle, which Nina compares to a hamster wheel, is a common one. We numb our shame with alcohol, engendering further shame; we then rinse and repeat, over and over again. Sarah explains how it's possible to break this destructive cycle, shares strategies for first addressing and then managing your shame, and offers genuine hope it's something all of us can overcome. Find out more about Sarah's work here.Nina's Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As of the day this latest episode is published, Paddy has been sober for eleven years and one day. By our sketchy mathematical reckoning, that means he stopped drinking on 14th October 2015. HIs parents were both alcoholics, and while he's abandoned the insoluble nature / nurture debate in his head, there's no doubt inveterate drinking has forever been a part of his world. Though he recognises it's not for everyone, AA has played a crucial role in his sobriety - not least because it helped him be honest with others and himself. Follow Paddy here - he'd be happy for you to reach out for a chat!Nina's Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being the child of an alcoholic has repercussions that extend far beyond one's youth. Salima knows only too well what it takes to deal with the profound and longterm emotional stress of having a parent who drinks to excess, and shares her moving story with Nina in the most articulate of terms. Now in her 40s, married and a mum of three, she still wrestles with the impact her estranged, late father's addiction had on every aspect of her life - which will resonate with anyone concerned about their own drinking or that of those they love. You can follow Salima here.Nina's Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr David McLaughlan is one of the UK’s leading addiction psychiatrists and serves as UK Clinical Director at Clean Slate Clinic, a social enterprise providing a clinician-led, virtual healthcare model for individuals with alcohol, stimulant, or cannabis dependence. He also works with patients at The Priory, and specialises in the link between addiction and ADHD. Here he shares considerable expertise and advice on how to spot the signs of problem drinking, what to do in practical terms when you decide to stop, and how to give yourself the best chance of maintaining your sobriety.For alcohol related issues, visit cleanslateclinic.co.uk or email [email protected] learn more about ADHD from David at The Priory, contact: [email protected]'s Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma has been sober since 2nd November 2025. An early starter in the world of partying, alcohol (and the rest) has been part of her life from her teens, and infiltrated every aspect of her adult life - from London to Singapore. Listen to Emma share her story with Nina, and find out more about her here.Nina's Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A couple of early slips aside, Andy has been sober since 9th April 2010. His is a resonant tale. He threw himself into work in his 20s - and the boozy social life that accompanied it. These were halcyon days, spent in the company of great friends and remembered with fond affection. But, of course, nothing lasts forever. As his pub buddies settled down and became less available, the alcohol Andy so associated with them obviously did not. And, what with him being responsibility-free and home alone for much of the time due to the nature of his work, his drinking soon took a dangerous turn ...Nina's Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like many young Londoners, Emily partied hard throughout her 20s, during which time alcohol and drugs free-flowed. When her circle of friends moved on and settled down, she was left behind, plunging into a void of self-doubt and uncertainty about what the future held. Her solution? Have children. But becoming a mum of two didn't curtail her drinking, inevitably leading to a life-changing reckoning. This is a reflective, insightful and inspiring conversation about what it is to be slave to alcohol, and what it is to break free from its grip. One relapse aside, which she discusses, Emily has been sober since December 2022. She works for The Living Room, a charity supporting those recovering from addiction, and can be found on Instagram at Stepping On The Sober Train and The Connection Couch.Nina's Wonderfully Sober Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.