The Sober Connection

What if alcohol wasn't just something you drank – but something you'd unknowingly been using to regulate your brain?
In this episode, I'm joined by Nic from Nourish Not Numb for a raw and fascinating conversation about neurodivergence, addiction and recovery.
Nicola is autistic and has ADHD, but didn't receive her diagnosis until after she got sober. Looking back, she can now see how alcohol, drugs and prescription medication became ways of quietening an incredibly busy brain, coping with overwhelm, masking and functioning in a world that often felt too much.
We talk about Nic's progression from teenage drinking and drug use to severe alcohol dependence, the experience that eventually led her into rehab, and why traditional approaches to recovery didn't always make sense to her neurodivergent brain.
We also explore what happened when she removed alcohol and her neurodivergent traits became even more apparent, the relief – and grief – that came with finally receiving a diagnosis, raising neurodivergent children, learning new ways to regulate, and why recovery for Nicola has ultimately meant simplifying her life rather than constantly trying to cope with one that doesn't suit her.
Neither Nic nor I are trained professionals in neurodivergence or addiction, and this conversation isn't intended as medical advice or diagnosis. It's simply two women sharing lived experience and asking an important question: when alcohol has become your way of switching off, what might be underneath the need to switch off in the first place?
Get in touch:

Nic

Instagram @nourishnotnumb

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

Socialising without alcohol can feel like one of the biggest hurdles when you’re changing your relationship with drinking. 
What will people think? Will you still have fun? Will you feel awkward? And what happens when everyone else starts getting drunk?
In this episode, I’m talking about what sober socialising actually feels like. From the anxiety before those first few events to the surprising realisation that most people care far less about what’s in your glass than you think.
We’ll talk about why alcohol doesn’t give you a personality, why those sober “firsts” can feel uncomfortable, the pressure to prove you’re still fun, and why sometimes the best part of a night out is realising you’re actually allowed to leave when you've had enough.
Your social life might change when you stop drinking, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it gets smaller. You might just start discovering what you genuinely enjoy, rather than what alcohol made tolerable.
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

What does sobriety actually look like after the milestones, the celebrations and the before-and-after stories?
This week I'm joined by my friend Mike Field, who stopped drinking three months before I did. We met in those messy early days of 2022, when we were both navigating life without alcohol and leaning heavily on the online sober community for support.
Now, more than four years later, we catch up to talk about what life really looks like when sobriety is no longer the centre of your attention.
We chat about:
- Why the first year isn't the end of the journey
- How our relationship with alcohol has changed over time
- The fears we had in early sobriety that never came true
- Learning to leave situations that no longer serve you
- Why community can make all the difference in recovery
- Navigating heartbreak, grief, anxiety and life's biggest challenges without alcohol
- The identity shift that happens when drinking is no longer part of who you are
- Why life without alcohol isn't boring – it's just different
This isn't an episode about counting sober days or celebrating milestones. It's a conversation about what comes next, and how sobriety quietly becomes the foundation for a life you never imagined was possible.
Whether you're on Day 1 or Year 10, I hope this conversation reminds you that recovery isn't about giving something up forever. It's about building a life you no longer want to escape from.
Get in touch:

Mike

Instagram @mike_is_sober

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

If you're thinking about taking a break from alcohol, you've probably wondered what actually changes when you stop drinking?
In this episode, I'm talking honestly about the early days of sobriety - the parts people love to share, and the parts they often don't.
Because the truth is, quitting alcohol isn't an overnight transformation. Yes, you may sleep better, feel calmer and become more present, but you might also experience boredom, restlessness, fatigue and moments where you wonder if it's even working.
And all of it is completely normal.
In this episode, I share my own experience of early sobriety, challenge some of the biggest myths about what happens when you stop drinking, and explain why the uncomfortable parts don't mean you should give up - they're often a sign that real change is beginning.
We cover:
- Why early sobriety isn't a straight line 
- The mental freedom that comes from no longer negotiating with alcohol 
- Why alcohol doesn't actually give you quality sleep 
- The surprising role boredom plays in recovery 
- How confidence is built after you stop drinking, not before 
- The quiet changes that end up transforming your life the most 
Whether you're sober curious, in your first few weeks, or simply wondering what life could look like without alcohol, I hope this episode gives you realistic expectations along with plenty of hope.
Remember: You don't have to become a completely different person overnight. Sometimes the biggest gift of sobriety is simply creating enough space to reconnect with who you already are.
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

What if the thing driving your drinking isn't stress... but loneliness?

When we think about why we drink, we often blame stress, anxiety or wanting to switch off after a long day. But what if those are only part of the story?

In this episode, I'm joined by accredited sober coach, bestselling author and TEDx speaker Nick Jonsson, who shares his powerful journey from appearing successful and high-functioning on the outside to privately struggling with loneliness, isolation and alcohol dependence.

Together, we explore the hidden role loneliness can play in our relationship with alcohol, why so many people suffer in silence, and how recovery is about so much more than simply removing the drink.

In this conversation, we discuss:

- Why you can feel lonely even when you're surrounded by people

- The link between loneliness, shame and alcohol use

- Why high-functioning people often hide their struggles so well

- The pressure to always appear "fine"

- What finally led Nick to surrender and choose sobriety

- What early recovery really looked like 

- How genuine connection becomes one of the most powerful tools in lasting recovery

Whether you're questioning your drinking, navigating early sobriety, or simply curious about the emotional reasons we reach for alcohol, this episode offers an honest and compassionate perspective that reminds us we're never as alone as we think we are.

If this conversation resonates with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a review, share the episode with someone who might need it, or connect with me on Instagram @levelup.withabi.

Remember, recovery isn't just about giving something up - it's about finding the connection you've been looking for all along. 

Get in touch:

Nick

www.nickjonsson.com

Executive Loneliness: The 5 Pathways to Overcoming Isolation, Stress, Anxiety & Depression in the Modern Business World

Available here - https://www.amazon.com/Executive-Loneliness-Overcoming-Isolation-Depression-ebook/dp/B091B1Y3WZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RA92G3A1DCEB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YePBWvmPyX7o6HJW8UjjY44aa-d7PWjxRrwCgoxjWpjO5034Qvni9ArICMpjXGzhVSbZThA7jCI54rH-2R3--URoX6fSgHE0TQLe-mKg8o563BUgWgKPKMVY4MCtkjvZANOVTFn_NOEjrc7qHJJZWky1BiEyXQvB-QruH78jBXIKEKutTVslwaYZbYtjSqLabTsmYXe4vuCaGYEOpCEdmzFkyzplDVcD4l73mXRC-4k.19ZA5pmDiBKbqdLth6oiVIPFqdQklHVWFJuV0DAukCA&dib_tag=se&keywords=executive+loneliness&qid=1783662176&sprefix=executive+lonelin%2Caps%2C449&sr=8-1

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