• Episode 70 - Abi King
    Apr 24 2026

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    Abi is originally from the UK, but now lives in New Zealand. Mum to 3 teenage girls, she spent most of their childhood buying into the 'mummy wine' culture, rushing bedtime so she could get to the couch and her bottle of wine (or 2). After one of her daughters told her they didn't like the sound of her voice when she was drinking, Abi decided to quit, thinking it would be easy. It took 4 years of constant stop-starting but she got there in the end. Now over 4 years sober, she's finally become the mum she always knew she should be. She now educates people on alcohol-related issues through her 1:1 coaching and her own podcast, The Sober Connection.

    You can find Abi on instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/levelup.withabi?igsh=MTdmbTBlN3k0NzM1bA==

    30 Days to Freedom by Abi King
    https://subscribepage.io/30-days-to-freedom-reset

    The Sober Connection Podcast
    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sober-connection/id1809595582

    Mrs D is Going Without - Lotta Dann
    https://a.co/d/04SPXfBI

    Boing Point
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11127680/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

    The Virtues
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7186126/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

    Support the show

    My Instagram is:
    https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy

    And you can find all my other links at:
    https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

    Buy me a coffee…
    https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

    Alcohol Explained - William Porter

    https://a.co/d/0854fIb6

    This Naked Mind - Annie Grace

    https://a.co/d/0gy6mT9Z

    A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

    https://a.co/d/0jdcIjGb

    Donate:

    https://motiv8.im/donate/

    https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/

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    1 hr and 29 mins
  • Episode 69 - Emma Newman
    Apr 19 2026

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    Emma quit drinking over ten years ago, long before sobriety became a trend or a wellness choice. Back then, choosing not to drink often raised eyebrows, and the only visible routes were AA or rehab. Emma chose neither, instead carving out her own path—without quit lit, podcasts, or a sober community to lean on.

    By day, she’s a mum to two teenagers (and two cats) and works for a disability charity. In her spare time, she’s become a passionate advocate for alcohol-free drinks, supporting the category from its earliest days. Today, Emma is a regular judge of alcohol-free categories and writes about non-alcoholic drinks, bringing both lived experience and a sharp critical palate to a category that’s come a long way since she started.


    You can find Emma on instagram at:

    https://www.instagram.com/emma_sobersonic?igsh=MXVhY2JraXdodWhzbw==

    And Emma’s linktree at:

    https://linktr.ee/emma_sobersonic

    Love Sober Podcast

    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/love-sober-podcast/id1379018341

    The Outrun - Amy Liptrot

    https://amzn.eu/d/06LpGWum

    Wild - Cheryl Strayed

    https://amzn.eu/d/00v410CZ

    Dry - Augusten Burroughs

    https://amzn.eu/d/0iEP1EZs

    Wintering - Katherine May

    https://amzn.eu/d/0fOgxG4L


    Support the show

    My Instagram is:
    https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy

    And you can find all my other links at:
    https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

    Buy me a coffee…
    https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

    Alcohol Explained - William Porter

    https://a.co/d/0854fIb6

    This Naked Mind - Annie Grace

    https://a.co/d/0gy6mT9Z

    A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

    https://a.co/d/0jdcIjGb

    Donate:

    https://motiv8.im/donate/

    https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/

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    1 hr and 52 mins
  • Episode 68 - Adam Burg
    Apr 12 2026

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    Adam Burg lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife and their dog, Ruby.

    His sobriety date (May 20, 2022) marks a turning point that came after more than a decade spent cycling through alcoholism, stuck in the all-too-familiar limbo between wanting change and not knowing how to reach it.

    Eventually, something shifted. Adam made the decision to confront his illness head-on. He asked for help, committed to recovery, and began the hard, daily work of rebuilding his life with honesty and intention.

    Today, that same journey has become a source of purpose. What once held him back now fuels his ability to connect with and support others facing similar struggles. His story is one of resilience, accountability, and the belief that change is possible for anyone, one day at a time.

    You can find Adam on Instagram at:
    https://www.instagram.com/sober__traveler?igsh=MW41bjFvczd2cnBlaA==

    Unexpected joy of being sober - Catherine Grey
    https://amzn.eu/d/03SBYaMG

    Recovery Elevator - Podcast
    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/recovery-elevator/id971959728

    Support the show

    My Instagram is:
    https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy

    And you can find all my other links at:
    https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

    Buy me a coffee…
    https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

    Alcohol Explained - William Porter

    https://a.co/d/0854fIb6

    This Naked Mind - Annie Grace

    https://a.co/d/0gy6mT9Z

    A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

    https://a.co/d/0jdcIjGb

    Donate:

    https://motiv8.im/donate/

    https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/

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    1 hr and 40 mins
  • Episode 67 - Laura McKowen
    Apr 5 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Laura is the author of the bestselling memoir We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life and Push Off From Here: Nine Essential Truths to Get You Through Life (and Everything Else).
    Her work explores the intersection of addiction, recovery, emotional sobriety, and the complexities of relationships. She has written for The New York Times and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Atlantic, The TODAY Show, and more.
    In 2020, she founded The Luckiest Club, a global sobriety support community, and she writes Love Story, a popular Substack newsletter about sobriety, relationships, and writing. She is currently working on her third book.
    Laura lives with her daughter on the North Shore of Boston.

    You can find Laura on Instagram at:
    https://www.instagram.com/laura_mckowen?igsh=MjBnbDE5eHExbjY2

    And all Laura’s other links on Linktree:
    https://linktr.ee/laura_mckowen

    We Are The Luckiest - Laura McKowen
    https://amzn.eu/d/0gKzYmnJ

    Push off From Here - Laura McKowen
    https://amzn.eu/d/0hZASeMq

    John O’Donohue - The Inner Landscape of Beauty
    https://amzn.eu/d/0dQokDBM

    Sentimental Value
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27714581/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

    Drinking: A Love Story - Caroline Knapp
    https://amzn.eu/d/0dQokDBM


    Support the show

    My Instagram is:
    https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy

    And you can find all my other links at:
    https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

    Buy me a coffee…
    https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

    Alcohol Explained - William Porter

    https://a.co/d/0854fIb6

    This Naked Mind - Annie Grace

    https://a.co/d/0gy6mT9Z

    A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

    https://a.co/d/0jdcIjGb

    Donate:

    https://motiv8.im/donate/

    https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/

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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Episode 66 - Nikki Pears
    Apr 2 2026

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    Nikki is a sobriety coach and the voice behind @mommyissober, where she shares raw, honest insights about what it really looks like to change your relationship with alcohol.

    After years of struggling herself, Nikki realised that the problem wasn’t a lack of willpower, it was the need for relief. That understanding changed everything.

    Her work now focuses on helping women, especially mothers, gently break the evening drinking cycle by working with their nervous system, not against it.

    Through her coaching and her 6-week live program Unbound, Nikki supports women who are still drinking but know something needs to change, helping them uncover the root cause and build a life that no longer needs alcohol to cope.

    You can find Nikki on instagram at:
    https://www.instagram.com/mommyissober?igsh=MWh1Zno3ZXUyc2hlOA==

    And Nikkis website is here:
    https://mommyissober.live/

    The Surrender Experiment - Michael A. Singer
    https://amzn.eu/d/0fBHg276

    Support the show

    My Instagram is:
    https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy

    And you can find all my other links at:
    https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

    Buy me a coffee…
    https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

    Alcohol Explained - William Porter

    https://a.co/d/0854fIb6

    This Naked Mind - Annie Grace

    https://a.co/d/0gy6mT9Z

    A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

    https://a.co/d/0jdcIjGb

    Donate:

    https://motiv8.im/donate/

    https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/

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    1 hr
  • Episode 65 - Ashley Howard
    Mar 25 2026

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    Ashley Howard is a certified life and recovery coach with over 20 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. Now with over 3 years of sobriety, she works 1:1 with individuals to help them reduce or eliminate alcohol so they can live healthier, happier, and more aligned lives. Based in South Carolina, she is also a wife and mom of two young children, and brings a realistic, compassionate approach to sustainable change.

    You can find Ashley on Instagram at:
    https://amzn.eu/d/074zO5jE

    And her website at:
    https://www.ashleyhowardcoaching.com

    Sober Motivation with Brad McLeod
    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sober-motivation-sharing-sobriety-stories/id1650658049

    Annie Grace - This Naked Mind
    https://amzn.eu/d/0bmEeE4O

    Annie Grace - The Alcohol Experiment
    https://amzn.eu/d/0hKgNiI1

    Laura McKowen - Push Off From Here
    https://amzn.eu/d/074zO5jE

    Support the show

    My Instagram is:
    https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy

    And you can find all my other links at:
    https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

    Buy me a coffee…
    https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

    Alcohol Explained - William Porter

    https://a.co/d/0854fIb6

    This Naked Mind - Annie Grace

    https://a.co/d/0gy6mT9Z

    A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

    https://a.co/d/0jdcIjGb

    Donate:

    https://motiv8.im/donate/

    https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Episode 64 - Dawn
    Mar 20 2026

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    “Retired party animal. Professional life-changer.”

    My name is Dawn, although these days, many people know me as ‘Sober Fish’.

    For most of my adult life, I lived the party lifestyle. On the outside it looked fun, but behind the scenes it was sleepless nights, extreme emotions, toxic relationshits, two-day hangovers and a growing sense that something wasn’t right.

    By 2016, I was overweight, my eczema was out of control, and I felt stuck in a loop that was slowly draining the joy out of my life.

    Something HAD to change so I decided to do a personal experiment: one whole year without alcohol or cigarettes, and I’d document the journey publicly on social media.

    I drank my last alcoholic drink on 27 November 2016, fully expecting to return to my old lifestyle once the year was up.

    But something unexpected happened.

    That experiment didn’t just change my habits — it actually changed my life! What began as a one-year challenge became a completely new way of living, and I’ve remained alcohol and smoke free ever since.

    Today, I support others who feel stuck in the same cycle I once did through coaching, mentoring and my private community, helping them change their relationship with alcohol and build a life they no longer feel the need to escape from.

    🐟

    Catch Dawn on Instagram at:

    https://www.instagram.com/soberfishie?igsh=ZjVwbjJqaDJmczR3

    or on Facebook at:

    https://www.facebook.com/share/18vvijBris/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    Dawn's Linktree:

    https://linktr.ee/Soberfish?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAQqhjhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadjo2U7bFrRAONzzbycrGG000G7TntaAHX6KJAa7Y141EdsrbGnDAFn3jmhLw_aem_NIEBd5DpI53j1Sa6L4HNPQ

    Alcohol Explained - William Porter
    https://amzn.eu/d/01rqPozm

    Glorious Rock Bottom - Bryony Gordon
    https://amzn.eu/d/014kt028

    Rain in my Heart Documentary - BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00793zq/rain-in-my-heart

    Support the show

    My Instagram is:
    https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy

    And you can find all my other links at:
    https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

    Buy me a coffee…
    https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

    Alcohol Explained - William Porter

    https://a.co/d/0854fIb6

    This Naked Mind - Annie Grace

    https://a.co/d/0gy6mT9Z

    A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

    https://a.co/d/0jdcIjGb

    Donate:

    https://motiv8.im/donate/

    https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Episode 63 - Mikey Banks
    Mar 12 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    On June 15, 2022, Mikey got clean and sober after years of battling addiction and multiple attempts to take his own life. His journey to recovery came only after reaching a place of deep desperation, when enough had been taken from him that he finally found the strength to fight back.

    Through those darkest years, Mikey’s beautiful wife never left his side. She stood by him faithfully, even though watching him slowly destroy himself hurt her just as deeply as it hurt him. Her love and loyalty became part of the foundation he would eventually build his recovery upon.

    Since becoming clean, Mikey’s life has been transformed. Recovery opened his eyes to beauty in places he once could not see. Today, Mikey considers himself rich not because of money, but because of the abundance of love, connection, and purpose in his life.

    What was freely given to Mikey in his recovery, he now gives freely to others. It has become his personal mission to leave the world better than he found it, helping people one by one, bit by bit.


    Find Mikey on Instagram at:
    https://www.instagram.com/mikeybanksrr?igsh=cjdqbGVwcTY1YW0x

    Mikey’s I AM movement:
    https://ko-fi.com/s/08ce0f2ede?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAVERFWAQfukxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaeufUiTElMI_NykYbXbptQYoXX3jW8qHGmrEfdWwTPdsVqnctQH_vN_UxE89Q_aem_iwdJxxQaejNGs8CkjSgBkg

    The Better Together Ball:
    https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-better-together-ball-tickets-1981878757715?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=PAVERFWAQfuphleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAac8fyV2wmls0UytOODHCIKo1bKuwHc6sgNLvqvs9_ni9Skk2ifuX2TvXbZmUA_aem_mkjXW3KvC70e598ed3yWuw

    A Star is Born:
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517451/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

    The Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Mate:
    https://amzn.eu/d/0d5xfdRI

    Support the show

    My Instagram is:
    https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmy

    And you can find all my other links at:
    https://linktr.ee/jimmythistle

    Buy me a coffee…
    https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmyt

    Alcohol Explained - William Porter

    https://a.co/d/0854fIb6

    This Naked Mind - Annie Grace

    https://a.co/d/0gy6mT9Z

    A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

    https://a.co/d/0jdcIjGb

    Donate:

    https://motiv8.im/donate/

    https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/

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    1 hr and 25 mins