Stories from everyday people sharing their darkest moments that led to sobriety. Shedding light on our struggles to help those still finding their way out.
Stories from everyday people sharing their darkest moments that led to sobriety. Shedding light on our struggles to help those still finding their way out.
Would you recognise the early signs of domestic violence?
Kacey Jackson grew up in a lower socioeconomic town with an alcoholic father and was never shown what a healthy relationship or boundaries looked like.
After being love bombed by a new partner, she found herself trapped in a violent relationship just three months later. One night, after five hours of torture and threats to her life, Kacey fled barefoot into the dark and hid in the bush to survive.
Now, she’s rebuilding herself piece by piece and sharing her story so others don’t miss the warning signs she once did.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse and Domestic Violence.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
Gordon Lownds didn’t try drugs until his 40s. By then, he was a celebrated Canadian entrepreneur who had built a business that sold for over $1.7 billion this year. On a business trip, he met a 27-year-old stripper, “the ultimate femme fatale,” as he called her, and what began as a fling soon turned into a relationship. What he didn’t realise was that she had been battling a serious drug addiction since her teens.
By 48, Gordon had become a high-functioning addict himself, excelling at work while living in constant fear that one mistake would expose his secret. A stint in rehab forced him to confront lifelong mental health struggles, including narcissism, and his relationship ended in a wild saga involving bikies, blackmail, and more than $300,000. His story proves that it’s never too late to get sober and start again.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, suicide and sex. Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Conrad Tracey joins me again on the podcast, this time in the studio. He’s an addiction coach whose own story of transformation shapes the way he helps others break free from dependency.
We talked about what it takes to become an addiction coach, the emotional challenges of working with people in deep addiction, how families can support without enabling, setting boundaries without guilt, and staying connected through recovery.
We also touched on socialising sober, from handling events when everyone else is drinking to shutting down those relentless “just one drink” comments, plus the biggest misconceptions about addiction that frustrate him most.
For the next 30 days, the first 30 people who join The Circuit Breaker will get a reduced rate — just $97/week ex GST for the first 3 month (normally $149/week)
Use the promo code: 'SOBER' at checkout to lock in your discount ($52 off per week).This is strictly limited — once the 30 spots are gone, the offer closes.
https://pages.addictioncoachingaustralia.com.au/the-circuit-breaker
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
What’s the first thing you remember doing wrong to someone? Did it hurt them? And if it did, would you call that person now, 10, 20 or even 30 years later, to apologise?
That’s exactly what Liam has had to do in his recovery.
Liam, an executive chef, always told himself: I’ve got kids. I’ve got a family. I’m an award-winning chef. My career is thriving. I can’t be an addict.
But decades of drug and alcohol abuse proved otherwise.
His final wake up call came when his son found him in a k-hole, bleeding out on a concrete floor.
Now, Liam sits before me, willing to improve for his kids but more importantly for himself. And then comes the one question that stops him in his tracks and leaves him speechless.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, suicide, domestic violence and graphic scenes of an overdose.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
For as long as she can remember, Justine Santowiak's OCD was the driving force behind her behaviour. But it wasn’t until she was 45 that she finally got a diagnosis.
One day, scrolling through social media, she came across a clip of someone describing their own OCD and emetophobia, and for the first time in her life, she felt seen. After 45 years, she realised she wasn’t alone.
For decades, alcohol had been her way of coping. At first it felt like self-medicating, but soon it spiralled into something darker. Friends and family lost trust, to the point where they didn’t feel safe leaving her alone with her own children.
At rock bottom, Justine made a promise to God. And through physical exercise and her commitment to sobriety, she has kept that promise. Today, she not only lives in recovery, but helps others find the same strength she once thought was impossible.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, OCD and self-harm.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
If you’re drawn to the mystical, curious about manifestation, or just open to the idea of magic, this episode is for you. Sunshine, the pink-haired witch, is a psychic medium, Soul Healer, Reiki Master, and High Priestess. A recovering alcoholic, she guides witches in recovery to reclaim their magic and step fully into their highest purpose.
We explore the spiritual side of addiction, how dark entities are formed, how they attach to us, and what it’s like to live with them. Sunshine shares from experience, and it wasn’t until her partner gave her an ultimatum to attend 90 meetings in 90 days that she hit her own version of rock bottom.
Leave judgment at the door, open your heart and mind, and let a little magic weave its way into your world.
Trigger warnings: Suicide and substance abuse.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Wayne lost everything to drugs, his home, his family, and almost his mind. Growing up as one of four boys, he prided himself on being the last man standing when it came to drink. But once drugs entered his life, everything changed.
He spiralled into psychosis for days, ran through national parks convinced people were after him, spent time in multiple rehabs, and lived on the streets with no support, no one to talk to, and invisible to all who crossed his path on their commute.
Wayne shares a powerful insight into what it really feels like to be lonely, exhausted, and afraid without a home, and challenges us to reflect on how society treats those experiencing homelessness.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, suicide and self-harm.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
Jessie grew up with a mother she calls a psycho. Her mum’s life was ruled by drugs and alcohol, and those same substances eventually claimed her. Jessie thought she would feel relief when her mum died, but instead she was hit with crushing guilt.
Her grief does not stop there. Her sister, who endured the worst of their mother’s abuse, has now followed in the same destructive footsteps. Jessie also grieves for her niece and nephew, growing up robbed of the mother they deserved. Addiction’s ripple effects run deep in her family, from eating disorders to skin-picking, living proof that it does not just take one life, it devastates everyone in its orbit.
Trigger warnings: Eating disorders, suicide, substance abuse, skin-picking, sex work, child abuse.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Today I’m joined by Vanessa Kredler, a Sydney-based Counsellor and Psychotherapist who specialises in helping adults recover from food and sugar addiction, disordered eating, trauma, and other addictive behaviours.
Vanessa combines her own lived experience with clinical expertise to guide people towards lasting recovery.
In this conversation, Vanessa answers all your burning questions about food addiction, including:
What actually creates food addiction
Why so many people switch to sugar after going sober
How to stop the relentless food noise
If you’ve ever wondered whether sugar is your “new addiction” or you’re curious about how to find freedom from food obsession, this episode is for you.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
For Stevie, putting down the drink has actually been the easy part of sobriety. It is facing the parenting guilt that cuts the deepest. The memories of being absent, snapping at her kids, and wishing time with them away just so she could get back to drinking still haunt her. She carries the weight of those years, constantly wondering what her children will remember most.
Stevie became a mum young, with three little ones depending on her before she had even turned 24. She felt completely drowned by motherhood, turned to self-harm, and at her lowest moments tried to end her own life.
Today, Stevie joins me as she and her partner prepare to celebrate one year alcohol-free, a milestone she never thought she would live to see.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses suicide, self-harm and substance abuse.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Braiden Tonks grew up in his father’s shadow, carrying a reputation for violence and anger. He leaned into that image to start selling party drugs in his hometown in Tasmania. After trying ice at an after-party, he quickly escalated to smuggling it across the Tasmania to Melbourne border. On one return trip, he was caught with $40k in cash on his body and spent weeks on the run until a SWAT team raided his bedroom while he slept.
But one night, while trying heroin with a stranger, Braiden faced a moment that would haunt him forever when the person beside him never woke up.
Follow Braiden Tonks on Instagram
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and graphic details of an overdose.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
Today’s episode is a little different, and deeply personal for me. Not in a traumatic way, but because Rachel is both my friend and my hypnotherapist. What you’ll hear feels more like an intimate chat between two friends than a formal interview. We dive into my own session around sugar addiction, explore how subconscious beliefs are formed, how new neurological pathways can be created, and even touch on past lives.
I recorded this back in May and kept putting off releasing it. I’ve had a block around this episode. Is it fear? Fear of judgment for the woo-woo parts, or admitting to another addiction? Or maybe me desperately trying to hold onto an episode I perceive as more personal and unstructured than usual. Either way, we’re all still works in progress, and showing that is okay too.
Work with Rachel: https://rachelcrethar.com/
Follow Higher Ground on IG: https://www.instagram.com/highergroundhypnochannel/?hl=en
Trigger warning: This episode discusses suicide.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Adriana’s life has been shaped by alcohol since before she was born. Growing up with an alcoholic father who abused her mother, she always knew something was wrong, but it wasn’t until she confronted her parents that she discovered the full truth about her family.
Her own drinking went unchecked for years, hidden behind constant travel and a busy life. She had always told herself, “Next Monday, I’ll start.” But one Sunday in her mid-thirties, Adriana downloaded an app to help, and that moment changed everything.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse and domestic violence.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
On the exact one-year anniversary of her fiancé Kris’s death, Taylor sat with me to share her story.
Just twelve months earlier, she had said her goodnights, told Kris she loved him, and gone to sleep beside him. Hours later, she was on the floor trying desperately to bring him back. Kris had died of an overdose.
This episode is about grief in its rawest form. It is about loving an addict until their final breath, and mourning two lives at once: the life you have been forced to live without them, and the life you thought you would share together.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse and graphic descriptions of an overdose.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Jeremy Donovan spent his whole life believing he was Māori. Orphaned young, he was whāngai’d (fostered) into a Māori family. But a court appearance for graffiti charges revealed the truth: he is Aboriginal.
Suddenly, everything shifted. Who am I? Where do I belong? Especially when the only images of Aboriginal people in the media are negative?
This feeling of displacement led Jeremy down a dark path, using cocaine every single day, as he tried to navigate a world where he never fully felt at home.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
Nicole spent 26 years in active addiction, starting with heroin at just 17 after entering a violent relationship. What began as “rough play fighting,” a red flag she recognises now, escalated until she made a desperate escape through a window while her abuser was in the shower.
To fund her habit, Nicole built a shoplifting operation so elaborate it could have been a movie plot. We’re not talking about swiping a handbag or a few groceries from Coles. She would dress up as rostered staff and pretend to work in the very stores she was robbing.
Alongside drugs, Nicole also battled a gambling addiction, which she admits wasn’t all bad at the time. For her, it offered something she craved, a place where people knew her name and where she felt seen and connected.
Now, over five years clean, Nicole works in a women’s rehab, supporting others with the insight only lived experience can give.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, domestic violence and Gambling.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
Marni’s earliest memory is knowing she wasn’t in the right body. Born male and adopted from Ethiopia, she spent her childhood feeling like a stranger to herself. At 18, Marni had bottom surgery, transitioning from a man to a woman- believing it would finally make her feel complete. But the relief she hoped for never came.
During her modelling career, it was in one of the most affluent suburbs in Australia that she was introduced to ice and quickly became addicted. Not just to substances, but to danger itself. Anything taboo, anything scandalous, she chased. That search for thrill led her into the arms of an abusive partner, and what followed was a nightmare she barely survived.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, violence, graphic descriptions of SA and suicide ideations.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
It was just a cocktail in Bali, at a nightclub every millennial has been to if you've partied there: Bounty Nightclub.
But Ashley King woke up permanently blind.
What started as the trip of a lifetime for 19-year-old Ashley ended in tragedy. On her final night out with friends, she ordered what she thought was a vodka-based cocktail from a well-known bar.
It was laced with methanol, and it cost her her eyesight.
Ashley joins me today as she's trying to raise more awareness around methanol poisoning.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
JOIN THE UNSPOKEN: https://patreon.com/SoberlySpeaking
What happens when a party boy struggling with addiction goes on reality TV?
Davey Lloyd was on Season One of The Bachelorette with Sam Frost — and in true Davey style, he showed up straight off a bender, going on to become one of the biggest kooks in Australia.
Always feeling like he was living in his late brother’s shadow, Davey found his place in the party scene, where he finally received the love and adoration he’d been chasing his whole life.
I really enjoyed this chat with Davey. His origin story felt eerily close to my own. So much so, I even shared a little secret I never thought I’d give oxygen to…
Trigger warning: This episode contains themes of substance abuse and descriptions of an overdose.
Ready to share your story? Email hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
This is the final part of Shelley’s story. You'll need to go back and listen to Parts 1 and 2 of "Shelley Was Brutally Attacked by a Stranger."
We pick up where we left off, back to when Shelley first met her ex. As her relationship with a narcissistic partner unravels, she’s left raising two young sons, one of whom is severely autistic.
In this episode, Shelley grapples with the decision to let her estranged mother back into her life. She’s just starting to rebuild, until one night in the emergency room changes everything. Then, child protection shows up at her door.
Trigger warning: This episode discusses substance abuse, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse.
Ready to share your story? Email: hello@soberlyspeaking.com.au
Disclaimer: The stories and experiences shared in this episode are personal accounts told in good faith. While we strive to present these narratives accurately, the views and claims expressed are those of the individuals involved and have not been independently verified. Soberly Speaking and its host, Julia Rangiheuea, do not take responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information shared. Listener discretion is advised.
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/support/national-alcohol-other-drug-hotline
Creator & Host- Julia Rangiheuea
Image & Logo- Jasmine Rule
In the spirit of reconciliation Soberly Speaking acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
