One binge almost cost actor John Pickard everything — his relationship, his child, and his future.

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In this next quick thought, ee explore how a single night of heavy drinking and drug use became the turning point. What started as “just a night out” spiralled into a wake-up call that forced him to confront the dangerous patterns he thought he had left behind. We talk openly about the hidden risks of binge drinking and drugging, the shame and guilt that follow, and how quickly old habits can resurface when you’re pulled back into the wrong environments. This clip is about breaking destructive cycles before they destroy the people and the life you love.

It’s also a candid look at the reality of addiction that doesn’t fit the stereotypes — the kind that hides behind months of being “fine” before one night derails everything. We discuss the mental and physical crash that follows a binge, the role of daily routines in recovery, and the challenge of redefining what normal looks like when drinking and drug use have been part of your life since childhood.

If you’ve ever convinced yourself “it’s just one night” or seen someone you care about repeat the same cycle, this conversation will make you think twice.

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.

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

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

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More on John -

John Pickard is an actor, producer and filmmaker with a career spanning 25 years gracing the screens of many UK TV classics including 2 point 4 Children & Hollyoaks. Not content with just being in front of the camera, he seamlessly transitioned into the role of First Assistant Director, lending his expertise to a variety of films, including two feature productions and Channel 4 soaps.

In 2016, he embarked on a new adventure by founding WildStreet, an independent production company that became a temporary home for crafting documentaries for Channel 4, short films for diverse artists, and countless 'proof of concepts' for Commissioners.

Adding to his multifaceted repertoire, John recently completed a Screenwriting MA at Goldsmiths and now contributes his creative prowess to BearJam, an independent production company based in the vibrant district of Brixton.

Beyond the glitz of the entertainment industry, John Pickard is also a passionate footballer, having graced both the iconic Wembley stadiums—Old and New—for charity matches, earning himself a well-deserved Man of the Match cup. Yet, amidst all these achievements, his most cherished title is that of a father to his nearly five-year-old daughter.

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Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pickard-442a8830/

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#bingedrinking

#addiction

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Cat thought she was just about managing. The undiagnosed ADHD, the mental load, the drinking. Cat wasn’t drinking in the mornings, she hadn’t lost her job or her kids, so how could she be an alcoholic? But the truth is, the mental gymnastics of planning every drink, hiding the chaos, and pretending to cope led to complete burnout. In this incredible conversation, Cat Sims sits down with me to share the stark truth behind the mask – the trauma, the shame, the moment everything collapsed, and the surprising reasons why she wouldn’t change any of it. Rock bottom is rarely a a single event. This conversation is a layered, painful, and ultimately powerful journey into honesty, acceptance and recovery.

Cat opens up about the mental load of motherhood and how the pressure to be perfect masked years of silent suffering. We talk about postnatal depression, the seductive role alcohol played in survival, and the personal cost of avoiding vulnerability. She shares the story of a blackout that led to assault, how she stayed in active addiction for years after, and why she finally made the choice to stop. We explore sobriety not just as abstinence but as a spiritual and psychological boundary – a way of keeping the doors locked in a world that isn’t always safe. We break down the stigma of the word 'alcoholic', why being powerless gives you power, food and phone addiction and why alcoholism isn't about alcohol.

If you’ve ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, felt trapped by perfectionism, or carried the weight of doing everything for everyone, this conversation will speak directly to you. Cat’s honesty is refreshing, very often funny, and deeply moving. Her new book, The Mental Load Diaries, is out now and comes from a place of lived experience, not theory.

Buy her brilliant new book here!

https://notsosmugnow.komi.io

More on Cat -

Cat sims is a content creator, podcaster and author who is still trying to figure the whole ‘adulting’ thing out.

She’s made a living out of documenting her failures and successes as a 40 year old woman, a mother and a wife across various social media platforms.

Her mission in life is to make as many women as possible feel ‘seen’ and to make them realise that they are never, ever, ‘the only one.’ She’s honest, wonderfully self-deprecating and willing to say all the things the rest of us hide away and, in doing so, managed to make us all feel a little bit better about our perfectly messy lives. Cat is author of the new book THE MENTAL LOAD DIARIES and is nearly 4 years sober. Huge thanks Cat!

Oliver is an ambassador for Alcohol Change UK and you can access support here - https://tinyurl.com/5dt5773e

Thank you to Gavin Sisters for sponsoring this episode! Visit -

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and use promo code SCHOOLOFROCKBOTTOM for 10% off! Support the pod here!

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Topics -

0:00 Intro

4:00 Cat's rock bottom

7:30 Is rock bottom one singular moment?

9:30 Post-natal depression & burnout

14:00 The fetishization of motherhood & managing relationships

20:00 How alcohol and drugs helped and hurt 'the mental load'

24:00 Pick up 1 drink and then...?

25:30 Acceptance of darker sides to yourself

26:40 Let's talk relapse

29:00 The effects of undiagnosed ADHD

34:15 ADHD and addiction

36:20 Food addiction

38:45 Where are you getting your dopamine?

41:00 Sponsor

42:00 Why use the word ALCOHOLIC?

44:30 What do you say at the bar?

45:30 What does an alcoholic look like?

47:45 Why I wouldn't "cure" my alcoholism & relapse

50:00 Why I'm an alcoholic

51:15 Why powerless means power

52:25 Alcoholism isn't about alcohol

53:30 The phone & social media

55:30 ADHD energy helps me be creative

57:00 Why do people go back out?

58:50 What do you want written on your gravestone?

Follow Cat

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/notsosmugnow

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#SobrietyJourney

#MentalLoad

#ADHDAndAddiction

Your Thoughts Are Not The Truth – How To Stop Believing Every Intrusive Thought

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What if the thoughts you fear the most… meant nothing at all? I revisit a conversation with actor Georgina Lock, as we uncover the truth about intrusive thoughts, OCD, and why learning to see your thoughts for what they are could change your life. If you’ve ever felt trapped in your own mind, this short clip will help you understand how to step back, stop over-analysing, and finally breathe again.

We talk about why thoughts aren’t facts – and how believing they are keeps us stuck. We explore the “pink elephant” problem and why thought suppression never works. You’ll hear about the power of saying “maybe” when fear takes over and how OCD attacks the things you care about most.

This episode also looks at the key shift that helps you become the observer of your thoughts rather than a prisoner of them. If you’ve ever believed your fears defined you, this will be the reminder you need: they don’t.

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.

About Georgia -

Georgia Lock is an actor and OCD advocate living in London, she began her career on CBBC at the age of 13 and went on to work with Disney channel in various shows. Credits include: Sadie J, The Evermoore Chronicals and the voice of Sadie Sparks with new projects being announed this year. An avid poet, Georgia won a competition in 2019 to have a small collection of her poetry published and is now working on her second collection for the publisher. She also writes music which is often inspired by mental health struggles and has run poetry workshops for OCD UK and was a panelist at the OCD action conference.

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

Follow Georgia

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https://www.instagram.com/georgia_nathalie

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#IntrusiveThoughts

#OCDRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness