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!

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1

Or via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

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.

Follow John

Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/johnpickard

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

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

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#bingedrinking

#addiction

#breakthecycle

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 -

www.gavinsisters.co.uk

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

https://buymeacoffee.com/olivermason1

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

Instagram -

https://www.instagram.com/georgia_nathalie

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#IntrusiveThoughts

#OCDRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness

What happens when you hit your lowest point and realise you’re living a life that’s not your own?

In this episode, I’m joined by Jack Cotterill — a jazz drummer, creative entrepreneur and performance coach — who once lived the wild rock star life, caught in addiction and self-sabotage, before flipping his story entirely. Jack quit alcohol and cocaine, lost over 10 stone, rebuilt his confidence, and now coaches creatives and entrepreneurs worldwide on how to ditch bad habits, find discipline and turn their creative energy into real success. His journey is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to change your path and truly be yourself.

We dig into why alcohol so often leads to cocaine, the psychology behind the infamous “F IT” button that flips once the first drink goes in, and whether counting sober days is actually helpful. Jack opens up about why drinking and drugging is ultimately selfish and how it impacts everyone around you, as well as why being “in debt to life” — recognising what life has given you — and practising self‑compassion are crucial in recovery.

We also talk about why moderation is impossible for many of us, and why taking full responsibility for your addiction is the true path to freedom. Jack’s story takes you from chaotic weekends to clarity, with practical insights on building a life you don’t want to escape from.

Jack has built multiple businesses from scratch, including Grow Sober — a coaching programme helping creatives and entrepreneurs take control of their lives. Today, he works with ambitious people all over the world, helping them ditch bad habits, build serious discipline and turn their creative energy into real success.

Huge thanks to Jack for sharing so openly — this is one you won’t want to miss!

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 -

www.gavinsisters.co.uk

and use promo code SCHOOLOFROCKBOTTOM for 10% off!

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://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

Topics -

0:00 Intro

3:45 Jack's rock bottom

9:05 What did this moment teach Jack?

11:10 The "F IT" button

12:10 Stopping drinking isn't about stopping drinking!

16:10 Should you count sober and clean days?

18:10 Alcohol always leads to cocaine

21:10 Dumping booze to dump cocaine?

26:05 Go to the pub in early recovery?

29:05 0% beer useful?

33:30 Sponsor

34:30 Why drinking is selfish!

38:35 Compassion for your own recovery?

40:25 You need to be 'in debt' to life?

42:55 Are you responsible for your addiction?

44:10 MODERATION IS IMPOSSIBLE!

50:35 How I lost 10 stone!

53:15 What do you want written on your gravestone?

Follow Jack

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

Follow Oliver

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Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment!

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#AddictionRecovery

#CocaineRecovery

#AlcoholRecovery

Binge Eating, Shame & Self-Hate | Why We Use Food to Numb with actor Danny Kirrane.

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Emotional eating. Body shame. The guilt spiral. If you’ve ever binged on food, hated yourself after, and promised to “be good tomorrow,” this conversation will hit hard. We talk honestly about binge eating as a coping mechanism — how food becomes a way to numb, escape overthinking and silence pain.

In this next quick thought, I revisit a conversation with Danny Kirrane and we jump into the link between food and self-worth, masculinity, body image and why men rarely talk about it. If you feel stuck in the eat–shame–repeat cycle, you are not alone — and there is a way through.

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 Danny -

Danny Kirrane is a leading actor in the period drama The Serpent Queen for Starz/Lionsgate co-starring with Samantha Morton and Charles Dance and he has just finished filming the Netflix comedy drama Baby Reindeer. Other lead roles in shows include The Sandman, Wasted, Don’t Forget the Driver & Critical. Other shows include Peterloo, Skins, The Inbetweeners & The Pirates of The Caribbean. Danny has extensive theatre credits including Mark Rylance's West End production of Jerusalem. Danny completed a Physics with Astrophysics Degree at Leeds University before becoming an actor after training with the National Youth Theatre.

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 Danny

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X - https://x.com/DannyKirrane

Follow Oliver

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#babyreindeer

#bingeeating

#anxiety

What happens when you’re raised in chaos, start drinking heavily at 13 whilst navigating autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD & PTSD, plus wanting to get sober before you’re legally allowed to drink then stopping at 18?!

I sit down with actress, dancer and reiki healer Scarlett Alice, who opens up about growing up with two parents addicted to alcohol and drugs, the trauma that shaped her and the moment she chose sobriety at just 18. Then comes the flip - her parents enter recovery and give her the inspiration to join them on the path to joy and serenity! 12 years later she's still sober and strong. Her story is brave, emotional, and proof that it’s possible to rewrite the script — no matter how it starts.

Scarlett shares what it felt like growing up in a household that looked perfect on the outside but was riddled with dysfunction behind closed doors. We talk about being a kid who could sense addiction before she even understood it, and how that shaped her early need for escape and intensity. She shares her earliest drinking memories — from getting drunk on trampolines at 13 to blacking out in nightclubs by 17 — and what finally pushed her to make a decision most people wouldn’t at any age - let alone as a teenager. Scarlett doesn’t glorify addiction — she talks about the coldness, the shame, the emptiness, and why it’s never just about the substance. It’s about the feeling underneath that needs soothing and how hard it is to let go of something that once made you feel safe — even when it’s killing you.

We get into how getting sober isn’t the end of fun — it’s actually the beginning. Scarlett shares how she handles awkward questions at parties, how she deals with FOMO and what sober dating really looks like when everyone else is still romanticising chaos. She gives practical advice on coping without numbing, how to spot when a ‘treat’ is actually a trap and why not all recovery paths look the same. Whether it’s the sober-curious movement, microdosing mushrooms or complete abstinence, Scarlett believes recovery should be flexible, honest and rooted in self-awareness. Her advice for young people is honest, unpatronising and grounded in lived experience. Scarlett is warm, funny, unapologetically honest and says the quiet parts out loud. I'm so grateful she made the trip from Brighton to share her story with us!

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

www.gavinsisters.co.uk

and use promo code SCHOOLOFROCKBOTTOM for 10% off!

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://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

Topics -

0:00 Intro

2:40 Scarlett's rock bottom

4:10 When did drinking start?

10:00 Excuses & last straw moment

11:40 Why did you stop drinking at 18

13445 How my parents helped me get sober

17:30 Peer pressure at 18 from friends?

20:25 Sober? The fun has just begun!

21:55 Dealing with awkward questions at a party

24:10 Did you feel like you were missing out?

25:10 What do you make of being sober curious?

27:30 Unhealthy coping mechanisms

28:45 Microdosing mushrooms?

31:05 Sponsor

32:05 Navigating sober dating

35:00 There are many routes to recovery!

37:30 Navigating neurodiversity, PTSD and addiction

44:40 Advice for young people struggling with addiction

Follow Scarlett

https://www.instagram.com/scarlettalicewellness

Follow Oliver

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Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment!

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#SoberCurious

#AddictionRecovery

#MentalHealthAwareness

“I want to fill my soul up, not my void up!”

Former Love Island star, speaker, author and all-round amazing human Malin Andersson opens up about the darkest corners of her life — from losing a parent, surviving an abusive relationship, and losing her daughter — to discovering an inner strength that can’t be explained but is undeniably real.

We talk about what happens when the distractions & addictions are stripped away, when you're left with the void you've been so desperately trying to fill with addiction and when the only way out is through finding purpose and inner healing.

We explore what it means to confront your shadow, to stop running, and to sit still long enough to hear what the pain has to say. There’s something here for anyone who's ever felt broken, stuck, or lost — and wondered if they had what it takes to keep going. Whether you're in recovery, soul-searching, or simply need a reminder that you’re not alone — this is for you. If you're ready to stop filling the void up and start filling your soul up — stay with us!

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.

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 Malin

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

TikTok-https://www.tiktok.com/@malin_sara_andersson

Follow Oliver

Instagram - https://tinyurl.com/2vt29sjv

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Watch the FULL episode here

Spotify - https://bit.ly/3HWiVaB

YouTube - https://bit.ly/3SBXSz1

Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ

#loveisland #bingedrinking #recovery

[TW: sexual violence & child sexual abuse – discussed from the start] I sit down with a survivor of sexual violence Madeleine Black, who shares her extraordinary journey — from the silence she held for years, to the shame that followed her through school and the deep impact it had on her sense of identity. She speaks openly about the PTSD she didn’t know she had, the physical toll it took on her body, and how trauma can remain locked in our cells long after the event.

We explore how she began to heal — through therapy and confronting the memories she had once buried. She shares how her body would shake, cry, and throw up during sessions — and how, despite all of it, she found her way through. What’s remarkable is how forgiveness entered her life, not as a decision, but as something she describes as “accidental.” She didn’t seek revenge. Instead, she chose to heal — not for anyone else, but for herself.

We also look into the cultural side of this story — the rise in misogyny and violence towards women, the danger of men like Andrew Tate and why we need to talk about how to educate young men. Shows like Netflix’s Adolescence are doing important work in this space, and we unpack how early conversations about consent, boundaries, and empathy can change everything.

This episode is a powerful, intelligent and moving looking at what it really takes to heal, why shame is so powerful — and how survival is never simple, but always possible.

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

www.gavinsisters.co.uk

and use promo code SCHOOLOFROCKBOTTOM for 10% off!

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://www.paypal.me/olivermason1paypal

Topics -

0:00 Intro

3:30 Madeleine's rock bottom

6:15 Why didn't Madeleine tell anyone?

7:30 Reputation at school

9:00 Do you blame alcohol?

11:30 Are rape survivors more likely to be raped again?

12:30 No one asked me if I was OK

14:00 What caused Madeleine to stop eating and drinking?

16:10 100% of rapes are caused by rapist's

17:20 Revenge?

19:30 I'm an accidental forgiver

21:30 Forgiving & healing yourself

23:40 I'm from a family of survivors

26:25 Trauma was locked into my cells

29:00 Healing PTSD

30:30 Strength in private moments

35:30 Letting go of shame

36:30 Lessons from Netflix's Adolescence & Andrew Tate

40:20 Sponsor

41:20 How do we educate young people?

42:30 Why young men become incels

Follow

46:30 Going in to get out!

51:40 What do you want written on your gravestone?

Follow Madeleine

Website - https://madeleineblack.co.uk

Buy her book - https://amzn.eu/d/5j95ilC

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/madblack65

Follow Oliver

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Please subscribe, follow, like, leave a review and comment!

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#PTSDRecovery

#SexualAssaultSurvivor

#ToxicMasculinity