In this special Q&A episode, Anna tackles a powerful listener question about what happens after the buzz fades from going alcohol-free. You've made it past those first few transformative months, and maybe you don't miss drinking, but the excitement has levelled out, and you're wondering how to stay motivated for the long haul.

Anna explores the “middle” of the alcohol-free journey when things become routine and life feels a little flat, but also wide open with new possibilities. She reframes this phase not as the end of the road, but as the beginning of something deeper: a time to discover what you want your new energy, presence, and clarity to create in your life.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Life is feeling flat - I don’t need alcohol but I’m not excited anymore

05:56 Removing alcohol is the main event; the challenge becomes deciding what to build or plant next.

11:50 Discover what your fully energised self desires beyond chasing milestones

17:06 Reflect on progress, list and revisit simple joys for fulfillment

28:34 Embrace emotional sobriety with self-compassion

29:53 Pause and reconnect with your why

If you’re feeling stretched thin, tired, and in search of support, you’re not alone. This episode - and the ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ group - are for you.

Join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, break the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD 99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram:

Are functional drinks the future of socialising, or just another wellness fad? On this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey sits down with Zoey Henderson, an entrepreneur, mindful drinking consultant, and early functional drinks pioneer, to unravel the hype, science, and shifting culture around functional drinks. With drinking habits changing across the UK and a booming market for mushroom-powered beers and botanical blends, they explore whether these innovative drinks can deliver real benefits, challenge traditions, and truly change how and why we drink. This episode offers plenty of practical tips to help you rethink what you’re pouring into your glass.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

05:13 Functional ingredients are being integrated into various beverage categories

11:50 Functional drinks in the non-alcoholic space offer benefits like relaxation or invigoration

17:20 Brands must ensure transparency and provide evidence

21:18 Mainstream adoption of using adaptogens in drinks

25:05 Undoing long-standing alcohol marketing is challenging

41:01 Understand consumer needs respectfully

44:54 Lion's mane mushroom can enhance cognitive health over time

47:19 Using fungi and plants for health is regaining popularity

50:38 Research product ingredients independently.

If you’re feeling stretched thin, tired, and in search of support, you’re not alone. This episode - and the ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ group - are for you.

Join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, break the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD 99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn:

So many mums reach for a glass of wine at the end of a long day. How else can we cope with the chaos of motherhood? How else can we navigate this emotional tsunami for which we receive no training?

In this deeply personal episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey opens up about her own journey through early motherhood, where drinking evolved from a social habit into an emotional crutch.

Drawing from the candid messages she's received from listeners, Anna spotlights the realities facing mums of young children and the quiet pressures that can so often lead to pouring that evening glass.

She also introduces the new Facebook community that she has created to unite and support young mums - The Big Drink Rethink: Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine. A space for honest conversations, genuine support, daily posts and a host of other free resources.

If you’re feeling stretched thin, tired, and in search of support, you’re not alone. This episode - and the’ Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ group - are for you.

Join ‘Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine’ here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mummydoesntneedwine

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

03:25 Creating a Facebook community for mums to cope with life's pressures without relying on wine.

08:26 Struggling with the transition to motherhood, using alcohol as a coping mechanism

11:35 Sleep deprivation and emotional exhaustion led to alcohol dependency

15:09 Mummy wine culture normalises heavy drinking among mums

18:29 Struggled as a new parent

24:10 Join the brand new Facebook group: The Big Drink Rethink: Mummy Doesn’t Need Wine.

Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, break the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! community information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD 99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn:

If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for a glass of wine after a tough day, but wish you had an easier, healthier alternative - this episode is for you.

Today, Anna dives into practical, 5-minute resets: simple, research-backed tools that can help you navigate cravings, manage stress, and regulate your nervous system. Drawing inspiration from global traditions, think mindfulness, breathwork, journaling, movement, and creating your own rituals. It genuinely does just take only a few minutes to reset your nervous system and find real relief.

Whether you’re sober-curious, cutting back, or already alcohol-free, consider this episode your emotional first-aid kit - compact, reliable, and ready to use.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

03:20 Cultural Alternatives to Alcohol

09:54 Box Breathing: Stress Relief Technique

14:32 Mindfulness as an Alcohol Alternative

16:21 Mindfulness Grounding Exercise

23:27 Five-Minute Brain Dump Journalling

27:44 Create meaningful rituals

Anna’s group coaching programme ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, break the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! programme information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD 99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment

Have you ever rolled your eyes at the idea that breathing could actually help with stress or cravings? You’re not the only one. That’s exactly what we’re getting into today on the Big Drink Rethink.

In this episode, Anna Donaghey sits down with Zoë Ewart, a trauma-informed life coach and breathwork facilitator, to challenge the skepticism around breathwork - especially for those rethinking their relationship with alcohol.

Together, Anna and Zoë unpack how breathwork isn’t just “woo-woo” - it’s rooted in biology, neuroscience, and can be a practical, powerful tool for anyone looking to break free from unhealthy patterns. Zoë opens up about her own journey through addiction, and how breathwork rewired her nervous system and changed her life from the inside out.

If you’re sober-curious, looking for real-world tactics to help you navigate cravings, or just want a fresh take on how to handle stress, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s possible - one intentional breath at a time.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

09:34 Breathing: The Everyday Superpower

11:30 "Calm Your Nerves with Breathing"

19:45 Resilience and Brain Power

29:58 Why Breathwork Gets Overlooked in Recovery

38:42 Finding Calm Through Breath Work

42:49 Three-Part Breath Relaxation Guide

Anna’s group coaching programme ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, break the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! programme information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD 99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Find out more about Zoë...

Have you ever felt like you're just going through the motions, outwardly successful but inwardly exhausted? Welcome to The Big Drink Rethink podcast with your host, Anna Donaghey.

In today's episode, we're diving into the theme of strategic recovery, with Chloe Stephens, a Flow Coach with thirty years of experience in fitness and well-being. Chloe's exploration into sleep, recovery, and nervous system regulation, empowers her to support her clients holistically, adopting a 360-degree approach to health.

Join us as we explore how stress management can transform your life and your relationship with alcohol.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

05:20 Normalising stress is dangerous.

08:56 Rethink your recovery, go beyond quick fixes.

11:01 True recovery involves simple practices like proper breathing and calming the mind.

18:20 Chronic technology-driven connectivity disrupts our boundaries.

27:05 Incorporate small, intentional pauses throughout the day.

33:11 Stay self-aware and regularly check your "battery" levels.

35:48 Achieving flow in life improves mental health and balance.

38:03 Expanding waistlines and chronic stress aren't inevitable with aging.

47:09 Incorporate mindfulness and rituals into daily routines.

Anna’s group coaching programme ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, break the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! programme information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD 99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Find out more about Chloe Stephens:

Chloe Stephens - The Flow Coach -...

Do other people’s behaviour trigger you to drink? Today on the Big Drink Rethink, we're exploring a topic that affects many of us: how to manage those moments when other people’s behaviour triggers our urge to drink. This episode is inspired by a question from one of my coaching clients, who finds herself frequently wound up by others, and is wondering how to stop being triggered by them.

Join me, Anna Donaghey as we look at ways to face these challenges head-on, especially in our busy and unpredictable lives where stress and emotions can run high. I'll be sharing insights on how to accept life's chaos, manage your own responses, and I introduce you to the enlightening concept of Mel Robbins' "Let Them Theory." This approach could be the key to reducing stress and building emotional resilience. Make sure you listen to get some valuable strategies to rethink your relationship with alcohol and find peace amidst the chaos.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

05:25 Accept chaos to live peacefully

08:39 Address stress instead of using alcohol as a crutch

10:09 Focus on living in the moment and accepting things beyond your control

13:42 Frustration may stem from unmet expectations

18:38 Letting go of control reduces stress and anxiety

25:05 Adopting Mel Robbins' "Let Them" theory can reduce stress.

Anna’s group coaching programme ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, break the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! programme information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD 99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by...

What if everything you thought you knew about menopause and weight loss was wrong? In this episode of The Big Drink Rethink, host Anna Donaghey dives deep with guest Ailsa Hichens, a BANT registered nutritionist and author.

Ailsa shatters common myths about menopause and unveils the truth behind metabolism, lifestyle changes, and the role of alcohol during this crucial life stage. From dietary insights to stress management and self-care, Ailsa offers a refreshing perspective on how women can navigate midlife by prioritising their health in a way that works for them. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation that encourages us all to rethink our habits and priorities.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Introduction

06:03 Balancing blood sugar and managing stress are crucial during menopause.

08:28 Some people are genetically sensitive to adrenaline.

12:35 High glucose causes weight gain and metabolic issues.

14:37 Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism for stress.

18:51 Alcohol initially induces euphoria but later triggers a stress response.

25:06 Self-care is crucial but often neglected by perfectionist women.

33:20 Change begins with pain and requires support.

36:09 Negative emotions signal needed changes.

39:34 Identify and note things that bring you joy.

45:42 Extend lifespan with better lifestyle choices.

Anna’s group coaching programme ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, break the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: Unstuck! programme information

To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment

And apply the code POD 99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener

For the free resources accompanying this series, please head to https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/registration

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink

About the host Anna:

Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.

Connect with Anna:

Website: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

Find out more about Ailsa Hichens:

Ailsa...