In this episode, I'm joined by Sean Daniels - internationally acclaimed theatre director, playwright, and artistic visionary - who has become one of the most powerful voices in the recovery movement. Sean’s work fuses art and activism, using theatre as a catalyst for healing and connection in the fight against addiction.

From his celebrated play The White Chip - a New York Times Critics Pick produced Off-Broadway by Hollywood names like Hank Azaria and Jason Biggs - to his pioneering role as Director of the Recovery Arts Project, Sean shares how storytelling can save lives. He opens up about relapse, stigma, and what it means to live a life in recovery that’s full of purpose and artistic passion.

We talk about:

• The power of art in addiction recovery
• Why The White Chip resonates with audiences worldwide
• How to turn lived experience into meaningful impact
• The stigma around relapse, and what we can do about it
• Hope, theatre, and transformation

🕊️ Hosted by me, Lucy Rocca, founder of Soberistas and long-time sober coach, the Soberistas "Empowered By Sobriety" Podcast explores the real stories behind addiction, identity, and the journey home to yourself.

Tickets to Sean's play, The White Chip, can be purchased here.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you?

In this powerful episode of Empowered by Sobriety, I sit down with Mel, Andy, and Helen to talk about Our Message Our Voice - a moving short film that highlights four deeply personal journeys through alcohol addiction and recovery.

Together, we explore the themes of sober connection, the vital role of community, and the cultural conditioning that surrounds alcohol. Each guest brings a unique and inspiring perspective:

🔹 Helen from Bristol, now 3+ years sober, shares how therapy and daily spiritual practice have helped her pursue inner peace and transformation. Fresh from a life-changing retreat in Spain, she talks candidly about the freedom that sobriety has unlocked.

🔹 Andy, a Senior Pharmacy Technician in the NHS, is 5.5 years sober after what he calls a 25-year drinking "blip." He reflects on the power of building knowledge over time, the influence of Annie Grace’s The Alcohol Experiment, and how meeting others in recovery helped him finally feel worthy.

🔹 Melinda (aka SunflowerField on Soberistas), now 7.5 years alcohol-free, helped co-lead the Our Message Our Voiceproject. She talks about her early days on Soberistas, her work on the ProACTIVE hospital study, and how meditation and teaching Yoga Nidra have shaped her healing path.

This episode is a heartfelt celebration of what’s possible when we speak out, support each other, and choose a sober life.

You can watch the film here on the Soberistas YouTube page.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you?

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Sam Roome – sober coach, speaker, trainee counsellor, and author of The Sober Experience. We talk about the impact of trauma on drinking, and how it can be incredibly hard to access help when alcohol becomes a crutch in the midst of life’s chaos. Sam shares her deeply personal story of growing up with two alcoholic parents, becoming a mum herself, and the moment she finally “woke up” to the truth about her own drinking.

We explore how trauma responses can keep us stuck in unhealthy patterns and why the label of “normal drinker” can be dangerously misleading. Sam’s journey is one of transformation, healing, and hope – and a reminder that life after alcohol can be better than you ever imagined.

🎉 Giveaway Alert! Sam is giving away 5 copies of her brilliant book The Sober Experience – tune in to the end of the episode for details on how to enter.

Empowered By Sobriety ... how has sobriety empowered you?