Thinking about doing Dry January or even a dry 2025? Maybe you're sober curious or your drinking has become problematic? Either way, this episode is for you! Sober Dave needs little introduction... Sober Dave, a trauma-informed alcohol recovery specialist, speaker, and host of the Top 10 podcast One for the Road & has amassed a following of over 140k on Instagram alone. Dave shares his incredible journey from 40 years of alcohol addiction to nearly 6 years of sobriety. He reveals the moment that changed everything, how a simple text became his turning point, and the habits and community support that helped him rebuild his life. Dave shares what is really means to be sober, what to say when someone asks why you don't drink, we talk zero alcohol beers and we even compare Drunk Dave to Sober Dave! Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you! https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1 Or via PayPal - https://bit.ly/3kSucAs Topics - 0:00 Intro 3:15 Dave's rock bottom 5:15 Why Dave had had enough and decided to stop drinking 9:15 Early sobriety inspires hope that it will keep getting better 10:05 How Dave stayed stopped 13:15 Using Dry January as a platform 16:15 Dave's progression from weekend drinker to 1LTR of vodka a day 20:15 What does is mean to be SOBER? 23:10 Dry drunk & cross addiction 27:30 Step 1 & 12? 29:15 Staying grounded whilst being so well known 33:30 Zero beer?! 37:45 What to say when people say why aren't you drinking? 41:40 Is SOBER DAVE allowed to relapse?! 43:15 Drunk Dave VS Sober Dave 49:15 Romanatising death and what Dave really wants on his gravestone Follow Sober Dave Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/soberdave Website - https://www.soberdave.co.uk Podcast - Search "One For The Road" on all platforms Follow Oliver Instagram - https://bit.ly/3IemHLY Facebook - http://bit.ly/3w8S1Gx TikTok - https://bit.ly/3YGLsYm LinkedIn - http://bit.ly/3kp4ymC Threads - https://bit.ly/3svw7yL X - http://bit.ly/3GQYj2l Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment! YouTube - https://bit.ly/3VSPOw9 Spotify - https://bit.ly/402S5Hs Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ

Do Dry Jan with @alcoholchangeuk here -

https://alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/managing-your-drinking/dry-january

Lastly, if you are interested in performing arts and incredible stories and journeys you must check out Matthew Jones' excellent podcast 'Life After Jazz Hands' here - https://bit.ly/4iQ7Nxa #SoberLiving #DryJanuary #AlcoholRecovery

Thought 5: Andy Jeffery on Healing Childhood Trauma & PTSD. Author Andy Jeffery shares his extraordinary journey of overcoming childhood abuse, severe PTSD, and alcoholism. In this powerful thought, he reveals how equine therapy, acceptance, and even forgiveness became the foundation of his healing. Despite enduring unimaginable pain, Andy's story is a remarkable testament to the human capacity for transformation and growth. Today, he is one of the most peaceful and loving individuals I’ve ever met. This is a story of hope for anyone struggling—proof that healing is possible, no matter how difficult the past. About the “THOUGHT” series - Every other Monday at 5 PM, I’ll bring you a quick ‘thought’—a powerful moment from previous episodes designed to kickstart your week with insight, motivation, and connection. These shorter clips help us stay connected as a community, while every other Tuesday delivers a full, brand-new episode with fresh stories and lessons. Follow Andy and get his book - Website - https://bit.ly/3oIl4jK Watch or listen to the FULL episode here: (School of Rock Bottom Ep5) Spotify - http://bit.ly/40FMSDw Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ YouTube - https://bit.ly/3ZDreyl Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you! https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1 Or via PayPal - https://bit.ly/3kSucAs #PTSDRecovery #HealingFromTrauma #OvercomingAbuse

Gab Stone is an entrepreneur and talent agent whose skyrocketing career managing Olympic athletes came crashing down in one of the UK’s most infamous gambling stories.

Gab takes us behind the scenes of his high-pressure life during the London 2012 Olympics, where he managed 22 athletes, 13 of whom medaled, while privately battling a gambling addiction that eventually led to financial ruin and prison.

Now, nearly ten years into recovery, Gab opens up about rebuilding his life, finding purpose, and the urgent need for better awareness around gambling addiction. He speaks with brutal honesty about the shame, the relapses, and the surprising parallels between gambling and substance addiction.

This isn’t just a story about gambling—it’s about the human condition, resilience, and finding purpose and self worth after addiction. Tune in for a powerful conversation that challenges perceptions, inspires hope, and sheds light on an often-hidden crisis.

Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1
Or via PayPal - https://bit.ly/3kSucAs

Topics -
0:00 Intro
3:15 Gab's rock bottom
5:50 Why gambling is like drugs & alcohol
8:20 How the behaviour of a gambling addiction mirrors substances
19:20 The neuroscience of gambling addiction
26:30 Poor mental health prior to addiction?
29:00 Using dreams
31:00 Powerless over gambling?
33:20 Withdrawal from gambling?
37:00 Gab's consequences and prison sentence
47:45 Celebrating recovery

For further support Gab recommends the following -

National Problem Gambling Clinic -
https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/addictions/national-gambling-clinic
GamCare -
https://www.gamcare.org.uk

Follow Gab
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gabstone9

Follow Oliver
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3IemHLY
Facebook - http://bit.ly/3w8S1Gx
TikTok - https://bit.ly/3YGLsYm
LinkedIn - http://bit.ly/3kp4ymC
Threads - https://bit.ly/3svw7yL
X - http://bit.ly/3GQYj2l

Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment!
YouTube - https://bit.ly/4fbqqZe
Spotify - https://bit.ly/41yG9OJ
Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ

#GamblingRecovery #BreakingTheStigma #AddictionAwareness

[TW//References to suicide & sexual abuse] Former actor Maike Mullender's life is a powerful story of resilience and self-discovery. In this extremely frank conversation, she opens up about the devastating loss of her father to suicide, a shocking and traumatic family secret, and the unanswered questions that haunted her past.

She takes us through the mental health battles, the perfectionism, and dissociation that defined her childhood. But it doesn’t end there – Maike shares her brave journey through therapy, embracing uncertainty, and discovering inner peace.

From finding healing through yoga and meditation to accepting the complexities of her past, Maike's story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. If you’ve ever struggled with accepting the past, trauma, self-worth, or finding your path forward, this episode is for you.

More -
Maike initially trained as an actor and performed on stage and TV. Her credits include North Square, The King and Us, Holby City, the Royal, Always & Everyone and Coronation Street, as well as The Gate Theatre and the Royal Exchange, Manchester. After becoming frustrated with the sporadic nature of the work, she retrained as a Relate Couple and Young Peoples Counsellor, going on to work for Relate. She volunteers for Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) & last year she wrote a book about her experience of growing up with a father with undiagnosed mental health issues who went on to take his own life. Her book: The Confession: A Journey to Acceptance was published in 2023. She now works as a yoga teacher & for The LUNA foundation.

Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1
Or via PayPal - https://bit.ly/3kSucAs

Topics -
0:00 Intro
3:30 Maike's rock bottom
8:30 Shocking moments in childhood
12:00 Childhood coping mechanisms ALL
14:45 Using adult relationships to fix childhood ones
15:50 Searching for answers
23:15 When not knowing can be OK
28:30 Forgiveness Vs acceptance
31:40 Dealing with doubt now
34:40 Yoga as therapy
39:30 Ongoing healing & working as a therapist
44:10 How to move through childhood trauma

Further support -
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide - 0300 111 5065 Hub of hope - https://hubofhope.co.uk Samaritans -116 123 NAPAC – 0808 801 0331

Follow Maike
Facebook - https://bit.ly/3ZtQGJT
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4fDHY1b
Website -https://www.maikemullenders.com
Book - https://amzn.to/3VbvEwW

Follow Oliver
Instagram - https://bit.ly/3IemHLY
Facebook - http://bit.ly/3w8S1Gx
TikTok - https://bit.ly/3YGLsYm
LinkedIn - http://bit.ly/3kp4ymC
Threads - https://bit.ly/3svw7yL
X - http://bit.ly/3GQYj2l

Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment!
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#TraumaRecovery
#MentalHealthJourney
#acceptance

Thought 3: Living with Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism – Mark Lockyer's Recovery Journey. In this powerful third episode of "Quick Lessons," actor Mark Lockyer shares his deeply personal journey through untreated bipolar disorder and alcoholism. From the chaos of undiagnosed mental illness to the hope of long-term recovery, Mark reveals the challenges, turning points, and lessons he’s learned along the way offering insights into the reality of living with bipolar disorder, the grip of addiction, and the resilience it takes to rebuild your life. About the “THOUGHT” series - Every other Monday at 5 PM, I’ll bring you a quick ‘thought’—a powerful moment from previous episodes designed to kickstart your week with insight, motivation, and connection. These shorter clips help us stay connected as a community, while every other Tuesday delivers a full, brand-new episode with fresh stories and lessons. Watch or listen to the FULL episode here: (School of Rock Bottom Ep3) Youtube - https://bit.ly/4fZrO1S Spotify - https://bit.ly/3FiXuzA Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ Podcasting is an expensive passion. To help me keep going, I'd really appreciate it if you could buy me a coffee, thank you! https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1 Or via PayPal - https://bit.ly/3kSucAs #RecoveryJourney #AddictionRecovery #BipolarDisorder

"I spent 2 million pounds on cocaine!" Martin John went from poverty to millionaire status—and almost lost his life in the process. At the height of his addiction, he was spending £5,000 a week on cocaine, even eating it off a spoon when his nose gave out. In this no-nonsense episode, Martin pulls no punches, sharing how his drive for wealth and success spiralled into a nightmare of addiction. He reveals why hitting rock bottom wasn’t losing his money but discovering how empty success could feel. This is the unfiltered truth about the hidden cost of chasing it all. Huge thank you Martin John! More on Martin John - Born into poverty in 1963 East London, Martin John was schooled by his father, a ruthless East End gangster turned scrap metal dealer. By 33, he clawed his way to millionaire status in the furniture trade. But as his wealth grew, so did his addiction to cocaine and alcohol. Over the next 30 years, he lost everything. By 54, bloated and broken, he prayed for death, consumed by regret. A near-fatal overdose became his wake-up call. Now, Martin has fought his way back through fitness and is helping others escape the hell of addiction. Martin is over 10 years clean. Topics 0:00 Intro 3:50 Martin's rock bottom 5:30 Cocaine increases after rock bottom 10:10 Cocaine use spirals out of control 12:50 From half a gram to 5k a week 17:50 Anxiety & panic attacks 20:50 The end of using 28:10 I help others but CA wasn't for me 34:20 Many routes to recovery 36:50 Brutal honesty 42:10 Maintaining recovery & the passion! 45:40 Martin tells ya straight! This Podcast is not for profit but my goal is to break even. To help me make more please donate here. Thank you! https://bit.ly/3kSucAs Follow Martin John Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/martinjohngetclean Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@martinjohngetclean Website - https://www.martinjohngetclean.com Book - https://amzn.to/3OfmcVs Follow Oliver Instagram - https://bit.ly/3IemHLY Facebook - http://bit.ly/3w8S1Gx TikTok - https://bit.ly/3YGLsYm LinkedIn - http://bit.ly/3kp4ymC Threads - https://bit.ly/3svw7yL X - http://bit.ly/3GQYj2l Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment! YouTube - https://bit.ly/3UUTRHL Spotify - https://bit.ly/48Skd2I Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ #CocaineAddiction #AddictionRecovery #OvercomingChallenges