After Hours with Jimmy Thistle

• Episode 50 - Will Gordon

  Will Gordon is an emergency liver and kidney transplant survivor who spent 15 years as a middle and high school teacher, shaping young minds while quietly battling a secret that almost ended him: alcohol addiction that left him with just two weeks to live at age 35. Hiding bottles and spiraling into isolation, he lost friends, his job, and nearly everything. Until a miracle transplant gave him a raw second chance.That rock bottom became a turning point, where he learned that recovery isn't a straight line or a highlight reel; it's about facing the hard truths, leaning on support when you're at your weakest, and rebuilding with honesty and patience, one day at a time. Today, Will hosts The Willpower Podcast; dropping raw, unfiltered episodes every Friday on YouTube, where guests like athletes, mentors, and fellow survivors share their real stories of grit, trauma, and finding strength in sobriety when life feels overwhelming. He's created a global sober-mentoring program that's supported over 100 people through their most challenging moments, speaks at schools and events about transforming vulnerabilities into quiet resilience, and offers one-on-one coaching with the straightforward empathy he's gained from his own journey. Catch the pod on: YouTube @TheWillpowerPodcast Instagram @thewillpowerpodcast TikTok @thewillpowerpod X @thewillpowerpod, or reach out with “SOBER” for sober mentorship. Will's story is a reminder that we're all in this together, and small steps forward can lead to something truly meaningful. My Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy And you can find all my other links at: https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle Buy me a coffee… https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

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• Episode 49 - Beth

  Beth began drinking as a teenager in the 1990s, using alcohol to ease the social anxiety she had felt for as long as she could remember. What started as a way to feel confident and connected quickly became a pattern that followed her into adulthood. After her mother died when she was 17, her drinking escalated, and by university she had become known as the party girl, hiding behind a confident exterior that masked deep insecurity. As the years went on, her relationship with alcohol shifted into what is often called grey-area drinking. She drank to manage loneliness, stress, and self-doubt, convincing herself it was normal. During lockdown, her drinking reached a point where she knew she needed to stop. Finding an online sober community changed everything, showing her that recovery could be built on honesty, connection, and shared experience rather than shame. A later diagnosis of ADHD helped her understand the impulsivity, emotional intensity, and constant search for stimulation that had fuelled her drinking. With this understanding came self-compassion and a new sense of purpose. Now over four years sober, Beth shares her story through her Click Sober platforms and volunteers within the sober community, helping women question their relationship with alcohol and find support. She is also the co-founder of The SOS Collective, a free online community for women. You can find Beth on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/click_sober Beth’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/clicksober?fbclid=PAdGRleAN4PVVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAafzlIxv_0A-hfL5li-FIKQF7kCeIb1kBQyfUCnXDTljlajPJTxSfEPfcSOjvw_aem_pe-oq35n271r5Fx4v_QooQ Drinking a Love Story - Caroline Knapp https://amzn.eu/d/55fBMhP My Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy And you can find all my other links at: https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle Buy me a coffee… https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

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• Episode 48 - Kim

  Kim began drinking around the age of 14. From the very start, she sensed that alcohol and she wouldn’t mix well. Still, she loved the way it made her feel—less awkward, more confident, and seemingly more comfortable in her own skin. Yet even early on, alcohol brought more chaos than comfort. Despite the warning signs, Kim kept drinking whenever the opportunity arose. Over time, blackouts became common, hangovers stretched into days, and she often woke up consumed by regret and anxiety. This pattern repeated for years. Deep down, Kim knew something wasn’t right, but she couldn’t imagine life without alcohol. Sobriety felt impossible, even unthinkable. Every so often, Kim would have what seemed like a “normal” drinking experience—one that convinced her she was in control. But she wasn’t. Each brief success only delayed the truth she didn’t want to face. Alcohol took nearly everything from her, more than once. Still, Kim was determined to manage it—to prove she could handle drinking like everyone else. She pushed past the pain, ignored the consequences, and pretended everything was fine. Eventually, things hit a breaking point. Kim decided to quit on her own, and for a few months, she managed to stay sober. But when summer arrived, she returned to drinking—and quickly learned what so many in recovery say is true: it always gets worse. The relapse nearly cost her everything again. That was the turning point. Kim walked through the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous, desperate but willing. There, surrounded by people who truly understood, she began to see that a life without alcohol was not only possible—it could be beautiful. With the support of her recovery community, she started rebuilding her life from the inside out. Today, Kim calls her sobriety the best decision she’s ever made. Each day, she continues to work on her recovery and self-discovery. Over the past year, she’s finally gotten to know herself without alcohol—and, for the first time in her life, she genuinely likes who she is. Kim once believed alcohol added to her life, but in reality, it was slowly stealing pieces of her soul. Sobriety gave her a second chance—one filled with peace, clarity, and purpose. Finding a sober community, both online and in person, has been life-changing. She encourages anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol or drugs to reach out, listen to others’ stories, and take that first brave step toward recovery. Kim’s journey is a reminder that healing is possible, recovery is powerful, and life truly begins when you stop running from yourself. You can find Kim on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/soberkimbo?igsh=MThveTByeHE4Y3k3dQ== Love Warrior - Glennon Doyle https://amzn.eu/d/2JgVoPo Unexpected Joy of Being Sober - Catherine Gray https://amzn.eu/d/iTdXAaR Beautiful Boy - David Sheff https://amzn.eu/d/2NIBoo6 Beautiful Boy - Film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226837/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk My Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy And you can find all my other links at: https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle Buy me a coffee… https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

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• Episode 47 - Will Edwards

  Will began drinking at a young age, using alcohol as a way to cope long before he had the tools to process life’s challenges. Even as he matured and became a father, he found that moderation never quite clicked — he didn’t always know when enough was enough. In 2021, after years of repeating the same patterns, Will began a personal journey of self-discovery and development. He introduced practices like cold water therapy and journaling, which helped him see the far-reaching effects of a night of drinking — not just physically, but emotionally and professionally too. One evening, after a particularly stressful day, he caught himself reaching for a beer out of need rather than choice. That moment of awareness changed everything. Will committed to one year of sobriety to learn healthier coping mechanisms. That one year has now become 1,400 days — and counting. Today, Will has built a life he no longer wants to escape from. He shares his story to encourage others to look honestly at their own relationship with alcohol and to realize that it doesn’t have to be a problem to be a problem. You can find Will on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/willedwardswellness In the realm of hungry ghosts Gabor Maté https://amzn.eu/d/25yvVOZ Dopamine nation Dr Anna Lembke https://amzn.eu/d/fsPeY8Q The Sober Rebel - Louisa Evans https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sober-rebel/id1697392317 My Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy And you can find all my other links at: https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle Buy me a coffee… https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

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• Episode 46 - Jen Hirst

  Jen Hirst works to empower women to feel their best in sobriety and boost their confidence from day one by integrating 6 science-backed habits to make sobriety stick. She’s the founder of Lighthouse Sobriety, a supportive community where women stay accountable, build connections, and stay alcohol-free... together. Her 100-Day Sober Journal has helped hundreds of women stay consistent and reach their goals, and her sold-out group coaching programs have supported women around the world in embracing sobriety with a GET TO mentality. Jen has been featured in Women's Health and The New York Times for her work in helping women create a life they're excited to wake up to. Jen’s website is here: https://www.joinlighthousesobriety.com You can find Jen on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/jenleehirst Jen's Linktree is here: https://linktr.ee/jenleehirst Beyond the Booze by Sarah Rusbatch: https://amzn.eu/d/6KR3Ejk My Instagram is: https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy And you can find all my other links at: https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle Buy me a coffee… https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

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