Tune in for a raw and powerful conversation with Lesley Buckman, certified coach, about the real work of sobriety.

Lesley shares that quitting alcohol wasn’t about discipline or restriction; it was about creating a compelling future and stepping into self-love.

“If you are constantly counting days, you’re telling yourself that drinking was the normal.”

This episode challenges the way even I think about sobriety, cravings, and emotions. She also offers heaps of practical takeaways for anyone rethinking their relationship with alcohol.

What you’re in for:
• Why a “compelling future” matters more than willpower in sobriety.
• How counting days could keep you stuck instead of free.
• What happens when you try to force feelings instead of processing them.
• Practical shifts to build a sober life you don’t want to escape from.

Connect with Lesley Buckman:
Socials: @LesleyBuckmanCoaching
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesleybuckman/
Website: https://www.inspiredcoaching.au/

Connect with Sophie Anderson 🌐 ⁠www.sophieanderson.au⁠💌 ⁠hello@sophieanderson.au

Quitting alcohol can feel isolating, like you’re the only one not joining in. But is it really loneliness, or something else? In this episode, I share the mindset shifts and practical strategies that helped me move through those wobbly early moments without going back to drinking.
“Loneliness is just a feeling—it’s not the truth. You can feel lonely in a crowd, or even sitting right next to someone you love.”
This episode is about:
- Why quitting drinking can feel so uncomfortable in social settings
- The difference between feeling lonely and being alone
- How to navigate self-doubt when you stand out by choosing differently
- Practical steps to rebuild confidence and connection without alcohol
This episode is about finding freedom in your own truth, even while it feels uncomfortable.
Reach out for coaching and support:

hello@sophieanderson.au | www.sophieanderson.au

What if the glass of wine you thought was helping you unwind was actually stealing your power and your freedom? In this episode of Mindfully Sober, hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner, and coach Helen Rowe shares her bumpy journey of giving up alcohol between January and October 2024, and why sobriety has been the bravest act of self-love in her life.
“Alcohol stole my freedom, but quitting gave me myself back.” – Helen Rowe
You’ll discover:
- Why wine became a trap disguised as relaxation.
- The casual comment that made her decide to quit drinking.
- How hypnotherapy and mindset work helped her break free.
- Why sobriety isn’t about missing out, it’s about finally showing up.
Connect with Helen Rowe:
Website: https://conscioushealinghypnotherapy.com.au/
Instagram: @conscioushealinghypnotherapy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565705455182
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/612865298292848
Connect with Sophie Anderson 🌐 ⁠www.sophieanderson.au⁠ 💌 ⁠hello@sophieanderson.au

Today I chat with fellow Cairns businesswoman, Nikki, owner of Sober Alchemy. Nikki, a proud mother and registered nurse, shares er story; another inspiring example of choosing to stop drinking without hitting "rock bottom". Nikki's story is about a quiet but powerful realisation that alcohol no longer aligned with her values or who she was.

You'll hear Nikki's raw truth about what it's like to build a social life and a business without alcohol and what she does when cravings hit. She shares the simple yet profound moment that led her to pour out her last glass of wine.

You’ll hear

- How noticing small costs can becometipping points.

- Why values and identity can make alcoholfeel no longer “you.”

- The power of a simple choice withoutover-planning.

- What happens when you are the firstamong friends to quit.

Connect with Nikki and find and order delicious, award-winning non-alcoholic drinks from Sober Alchemy:

🌐 https://www.soberalchemy.com.au

Socials: @Sober Alchemy

Connect with Sophie Anderson 🌐 ⁠www.sophieanderson.au⁠💌 ⁠hello@sophieanderson.au

Let’s talk about the common fears around quitting: missing out, not being able to relax, awkward social stuff, and, most importantly, how to reframe it all and keep going with your journey to sobriety. It's a mindset game!

In this episode of Mindfully Sober, Sophie sits down with life coach, hypnotherapist, and meditation teacher Rafa Tadielo, sober since March 2023. Rafa shares her raw truth about alcohol: how it stole her freedom, dignity, and kepther stuck in a cycle of “showing up for society” while quietly suffering. Quitting, she says, was “one of the biggestacts of self-love in my life, after quitting smoking.”

Her story is a powerful reminder that sobrietyisn’t just about removing alcohol; it’s about reclaiming choice, self-respect, and the courage to live authentically.

What You’ll Discover:

- The truth behind believing we “don’t have a problem” as long as we show up for society.

- The moment she realised alcohol had stolen her dignity and her freedom.

- Why quitting drinking became the ultimate act of self-love.

- How she now helps women dissolve roadblocks and make bold moves in their own lives.

- What life truly feels like on the other side of drinking.

Connect with Rafa Tadielo:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095480866642

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafatadielo

Website: https://www.rafatadielo.com

Connect with Sophie Anderson
🌐 www.sophieanderson.au💌 hello@sophieanderson.au

In this episode, I open up about my own journey, growing up in groups and environments where drinking was normal and encouraged. I share the reasons I’m the kind of person who “should” still be drinking… but chose a different path. I share the generational patterns I’ve broken, different perspectives around freedom, and the personal motivations behind my decision to stop. Whether you’re ready to quit or simply exploring what life could look like without alcohol, you’ll find relatable moments, gentle permission to take your time, and a few tips you might want to steal (plus what NOT to copy from my journey!!).

In this first episode of Mindfully Sober, I explore the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs that you might be ready to stop drinking, even if the thought of quitting feels weird, extreme, or too permanent and daunting.

If you’ve been feeling a quiet nudge that something needs to change, or you’re questioning your relationship with alcohol, you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not broken. This episode will help you identify the internal shifts that often happen before someone chooses an alcohol-free life.

This is a conversation to help you trust yourself, because if you’re here, something inside you already knows.