Soberly Speaking

• Affairs, Debt & Losing Her Home: Dionne’s Story

  Dionne’s life was shaped by chaos from the start. She grew up with a father who drank heavily and cheated on her mother, and she was forced to move schools after relentless bullying. She was desperate to be loved by the time she met her ex-husband, He battled his own addictions, and together, their lives unraveled. Dionne lost her home in a fire, drowned in debt, and discovered her husband was having affairs even whilst she was pregnant.Her drinking escalated, even her children were begging her to stop. “You’re an alcoholic, you’re disgusting,” they would scream, hiding her car keys to stop her from having accidents.Ready to share your story? Email [email protected] WARNING: This episode discusses substance abuse. Please listen with care.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & host- Julia RangiheueaVideo producer- Beaudene PerussichImage & logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

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• Jane Left Her Unhappy Marriage After Sobriety

  Jane had the picture-perfect life—married, two kids, a white picket fence, and a home in a nice suburb. But behind closed doors, she was stuck in an unhappy marriage and secretly drowning in alcohol addiction, blacking out every night after finishing breastfeeding her youngest. Despite seeking help through therapy and AA, the cravings were relentless. It took a family intervention, a breaking point, and the right doctor to finally push her toward sobriety.Just four weeks of not drinking and with newfound clarity, she found the courage to walk away from her old life.Follow Jane on InstagramLet's Get a Pedi website Ready to share your story? Email [email protected] WARNING: This episode discusses substance abuse and miscarriage. Please listen with care.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & host- Julia RangiheueaVideo producer- Beaudene PerussichImage & logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

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• David’s Manic Episode Led to $3 Million in Damages

  I came across David on TikTok, where he’s known as Bipolarguylovinglife and he instantly caught my attention. Sitting in his car, talking to the camera about his ex-cocaine dealer, who he moved into his spare bedroom in hopes of getting a discount. I was hooked.For the first 27 years of his life, David’s world looked very different. He didn’t drink, didn’t touch drugs, went to Bible college, and married the girl he had promised himself to at 21.But at 27, his bipolar disorder could no longer be contained. Mania took over, and the fallout was huge; trying to marry a foreign nanny while still married to his first wife, buying a nightclub on impulse, falling for someone who had to wear an ankle monitor, and committing his biggest regret: white-collar crime, with damages estimated in the millions.Follow David on TikTokReady to share your story? Email [email protected] WARNING: This episode discusses domestic violence, self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide. Please listen with care.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & host- Julia RangiheueaVideo producer- Beaudene PerussichImage & logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

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• The Night Kara Was Left for Dead

  Kara’s earliest memory is of her father’s addiction and the police at their home, trying to restore order. As she grew older, she found herself caught in a similar cycle; Xanax consuming her life, self-harm becoming routine, and her mother quietly preparing for her funeral. But everything changed the night she was sexually assaulted on a beach and woke up in a random hotel room, where a kind stranger was bathing her.In that moment, Kara realised she didn’t want to die. She wanted to live—desperately.Follow Kara on InstagramReady to share your story? Email [email protected] WARNING: This episode discusses sexual assault, self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide. Please listen with care. The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & host- Julia RangiheueaVideo producer- Beaudene PerussichImage & logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

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• Dominique Elissa Plans to Be a Sober Bride

  If you’ve been sitting on the fence about giving up alcohol, or even just taking an extended break, then this is the episode for you. Dominique Ellisa is going alcohol-free for 2025, and trust me, her energy around it is contagious.Going into this interview, I knew two things—Dom is a stunning model, and she’s committing to a year without alcohol. But what I didn’t expect was just how electrifying her perspective would be. Her excitement about sobriety is magnetic, and the way she talks about feeling truly aligned will have you rethinking everything.Purchase Dom's Gratitude Journal HEREUse code 'SOBERLYSPEAKING' at checkout for 20% off Follow Dom on InstagramReady to share your story? Email [email protected] WARNING: This episode discusses themes of substance abuse. Please listen with care.The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotlineCreator & host- Julia RangiheueaVideo producer- Beaudene PerussichImage & logo- Jasmine RuleIn the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

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