In this episode of How I Quit Alcohol, Seana Smith shares her powerful story, reflecting on a childhood marked by both an idyllic lifestyle and the unpredictability of having an alcoholic father. Growing up around alcoholism left her in a constant state of hypervigilance, never quite knowing which version of him would appear each day. From the outside, Seana’s life looked perfect: an Oxford graduate, a thriving career with the BBC and Channel 9, a bestselling author, a happy marriage, and four vibrant children. Yet behind the scenes, alcohol was quietly eroding her health, emotional well-being, and sense of self.

With her engaging style and wit, Seana unveils the hidden challenges of her lifelong battle with alcohol, exploring how it impacted every aspect of her life—and ultimately, how she found the strength to change.

Seana Smith website: https://www.seanasmith.com/

Sober Journeys website: https://www.soberjourneys.com/

www.instagram.com/seanasmith

www.instagram.com/sober_journeys

Going Under, a memoir of family secrets, addiction and escape is published by Ventura Press.

In Australia: Going Under is available in bookshops and online stores in Australia and on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Going-Under-memoir-secrets-addiction/dp/0645497231/

In the USA: https://www.amazon.com/Going-Under-memoir-secrets-addiction/dp/0645497231/

In the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Going-Under-memoir-secrets-addiction/dp/0645497231/

Going Under Audiobook: Going Under on Audible, narrated by Seana Smith, click here.

Going Under on Spotify: Listen to Going Under on Spotify here.

I’m attaching a copy of the book cover and a photo of me.

For more resources such as coaching or to join the next HIQA challenge go to

www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol 

Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy

If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. 

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Sharing an episode from the beautiful Ash Butterss and her podcast The Unedited Woman, How to Embody and Befriend your Nervous System. Ash and I also announce a special announcement for our retreat we will be running together in Bali in Sept 2025 and our upcoming Nervous System Workshops in Brisbane, Fremantle and Sydney.

We chat about the importance of self awareness.

To find out more info our upcoming retreat in Bali go to

https://www.iquitalcohol.com.au/collections/retreat/products/bali-healing-retreat-balian-may-1-6

Workshops

https://www.iquitalcohol.com.au/collections/resources

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In this episode, I catch up with HIQA grad and psychologist Rebecca Glorie to discuss her personal journey growing up in an environment affected by alcoholism. Rebecca shares the profound impact this had on her childhood and how it influenced her adult life. We delve into the concept of "repair after rupture," exploring the importance of healing relationships strained by addiction. Rebecca openly discusses confronting her own struggles with alcohol, the healthier coping mechanisms she now employs, and the pivotal decision to quit drinking to provide a better environment for her daughter.

To reach out to Rebecca go to

https://www.rebeccaglorie.com

For more resources such as coaching or to join the next HIQA challenge or Bali retreats go to

www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol 

Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy

If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I chat with Michelle, a graduate of the HIQA program, who at the time of this recording is celebrating 9 months alcohol-free.

Michelle shares her powerful journey of overcoming hidden drinking habits that spiralled into binge drinking. She opens up about drinking in the mornings to combat hangovers, which often led to all-day binges and passing out on the couch.

Her struggle took a toll on her mental health—mood swings, depression, and lies to her husband left him worried and unsure how to help. Overwhelmed by shame and embarrassment, Michelle felt completely lost.

Everything changed when she joined the HIQA Alcohol Challenge in January. Since then, she hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol. Through the program, Michelle uncovered the emotional triggers behind her drinking habits and learned how to sit with her feelings, rather than suppressing them with alcohol.

In this conversation, Michelle also shares practical tools that helped her navigate cravings and how she managed moments of overwhelm during her early days of sobriety. Tune in for her inspiring story of transformation and the strategies she used to build a healthier, balanced life and becoming a well resourced adult.

For more resources such as coaching or to join the next HIQA challenge go to

www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol 

Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy

If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo cast, I offer some tips on preparing yourself for taking time off or quitting alcohol or changing a habit.

I share some tips on noticing patterns of thought, belief and behaviour.

Preparing your body.

Making a plan and more.

For more resources such as coaching or to join the next HIQA challenge go to

www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol 

Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy

If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Britt, a wedding celebrant and MC based in Byron Bay, who shares her inspiring journey toward self-discovery and sobriety. After hitting rock bottom, Britt took on the HIQA 6-week challenge in January 2024 and is now proudly 9 months sober.

Throughout her journey, Britt learned valuable lessons about self-soothing, managing expectations, and sitting with her emotions without seeking external comfort. She also talks about setting clear, solid boundaries and the powerful process of unlearning and relearning behaviours that no longer served her.

By gaining confidence, clarity, and time, Britt has been able to refocus on her business and explore exciting new ideas for the future. Don't miss this insightful conversation about growth, resilience, and the freedom that comes with sobriety.

To reach out Brit on Insta go to @britt.happydays

For more resources such as coaching or to join the next HIQA challenge go to

www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol 

Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy

If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I catch up with my friend Kasey Chambers to chat about her new book, Just Don't Be a Dickhead. We dive into the importance of tuning into your inner voice, her decision to live alcohol-free, and the art of navigating divorce with grace. We also explore how to manage people-pleasing tendencies and reclaim your personal power. Kasey's new book is packed with down-to-earth wisdom and powerful insights. It had me cracking up laughing at time, and at times had me welling up with tears. Just like Kasey the book is down to earth, powerful but also very tender.

Kasey is an award-winning Australian singer-songwriter, known for her powerful storytelling and unique blend of country, folk, and rock. With numerous ARIA Awards under her belt and albums that have become staples in the Australian music scene, Kasey’s influence extends far beyond her music. Now, with her new book, she’s sharing even more of her personal journey and hard-earned wisdom with the world.

I love her, I love this book... I promise you, you will too.

• Album preorder: https://ffm.to/backbonekc
• Book preorder: https://bio.to/KaseyChambersBook
• Tour Tickets (incl. Book events): https://kaseychambers.com/#tour-dates

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In this episode, I talk with Chris Gimpel from Brisbane about his personal struggles with alcohol and how the need for acceptance fuelled a deeply problematic relationship with drinking. This conversation highlights a critical issue—many of us drink to feel accepted, and the effects on our lives, bodies, and mental health are profound. We explore the importance of getting curious about what drives our drinking, rather than succumbing to shame or embarrassment. We also talk about some important questions to ask yourself before you think about quitting alcohol.

Chris (and Presley) helps others in his role as Head of Client Engagement at Clean Slate Clinic and is a compassionate advocate for destigmatising substance dependence to remove that barrier for accessing addiction treatment services.

Clean Slate Clinic is a social enterprise who provides telehealth clinical support to help Australians struggling with alcohol, stimulant, or cannabis dependence to detox and recover safely from the comfort of their homes

His lived experience combined with his corporate background allows him to support our clients with deep understanding and to help grow Clean Slate. 

Chris is dedicated to empowering others on their recovery journeys by sharing his story of hope and the opportunity for change.

Find out more at cleanslateclinic.com or follow on IG @cleanslateclinic

To reach out to Chris go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgimpel/.

For more resources such as coaching or to join the next HIQA challenge go to

www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol 

Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy

If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ash and I have a good old chat in the studio celebrating our book release, How I Quit Alcohol, A Rock N Roll Guide To Sobriety.

We chat about that first year of sobriety and beyond, how much our life has changed and some of the challenges that we faced in early sobriety.

We also talk about why choosing a 12 month break is a great reset and why it's so important to have 100% commitment with your choices.

Why changing your self concept is also so important to create lasting and rewarding change.

Tune in for those juicy topics and much more...

To order the hardcopy of our book go to www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Or to order on Kindle go to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8PKZ931?ref_=pe_93986420_774987470

For more resources such as coaching, retreats or to join the next HIQA challenge go to

www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol 

Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy

If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is without a doubt one of my all-time favorite conversations on the podcast! In this episode, I chat with the renowned meditation teacher, David Ji, who has guided millions of people on their journey to heal their hearts and embrace the power of meditation.

What We Discuss:

• Shedding What Doesn’t Serve Us: David and I explore the concept of letting go of the things in our lives that no longer serve us, viewing this as a form of rebirth or life rebranding.
• Who’s in Your Front Row: We dive into the importance of becoming aware of the people in your "front row"—those who directly influence your life—and why it’s crucial to surround yourself with those who truly support your choices and growth.
• Evaluating Your Circle: Take a moment to reflect on the five people or behaviors in your life and how they impact your feelings and well-being.
• The Power to Begin Again: David shares insights on giving yourself permission to start fresh, no matter where you are in life.
• The Power of Meditation: We chat about how meditation can transform your life, leading to more mindful and conscious decisions.
• 16-Second Meditation Practice: David also takes us through a simple yet powerful 16-second practice that can help you make more conscious choices—this one is a beauty!

To learn more about David Ji, you can find his meditations on Insight Timer or visit his website.

To find out more about the HIQA retreats, courses, books or one on one coaching with Danni head to

www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Follow HIQA insta @howiquitalcohol 

Music for Podcast intro and outro written by Danni Carr performed by Mr Cassidy

If you are struggling with physical dependancy on alcohol consider contacting a local AA meeting or a drug and alcohol therapist. Always consult a GP before stopping alcohol. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solocast, I dive into the transformative power of the self check-in. Understanding and responding to the signals our body sends can be a game-changer in preventing ailments, avoiding poor decisions, and managing reactive behaviours. Through self-compassion and mindfulness, we can better equip ourselves to face life's challenges with grace and resilience.

Join me as I guide you through a simple yet powerful mindfulness practice designed to help you connect with yourself on a deeper level. Whether you're dealing with stress, uncertainty, or just need a moment of calm, this episode will provide you with the tools to tune into your body, listen to what it’s telling you, and respond with care.

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be running a 7-day course called Connected live and online, starting on September 16. This course is designed to help you deepen your connection with yourself through mindfulness and self-compassion practices. Don't miss this opportunity to join a supportive community and take your personal growth journey to the next level!

Sign up here for the 7 day "Connected" course.

https://www.iquitalcohol.com.au/collections/resources/products/connected-7-days-live-online-course-with-danni

To order our book How I Quit Alcohol, A Rock n Roll guide to Sobriety.

https://www.iquitalcohol.com.au/collections/book-how-i-quit-alcohol

The Michael Singer podcast I mentioned is here.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e1-living-from-a-deeper-part-of-your-being/id1573483082?i=1000666202603

If you are heavy or daily drinker please consult a medical practitioner before stopping drinking.

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