Today's 66 Day Challenger is Chez, a South African who heard me being interviewed about sobriety on the radio

She didn’t act immediately but the seed was sewn…

Chez did our Challenge back in 2018 when it was called the Sober Spring Challenge.

Of course the 1st September is the beginning of Spring here in South Africa but we are so international these days that we’ve rebranded the Challenge #Sober66…

So of course if you live in the northern hemisphere it will be a Sober Autumn for you!

In this episode:

• Chez knew for years that she had a drinking problem but struggled to find a method that worked — rehab and AA didn’t suit her.
• Her turning point came after hearing about Tribe Sober on the radio and joining the Sober Spring Challenge in 2018.
• She committed to 66 alcohol-free days, which were initially difficult — with poor sleep, low energy, and emotional struggles but
• Somewhere between Day 55 and Day 66, everything shifted — she started sleeping well, felt energized, happy, and truly present with her son.
• She describes a poignant moment: watching her son in a colour run and truly enjoying it without a hangover.
• The WhatsApp support group was crucial for accountability, encouragement, and connection — and helped her make lasting friendships.
• After completing the 66 days, she tried to go it alone — but eventually relapsed. This made her realise the importance of ongoing support so
• She rejoined Tribe Sober as a full member and credits the community and her son as her two biggest motivators to stay sober.
• Chez speaks openly about her experience with bipolar disorder, noting that alcohol had rendered her medication ineffective — sobriety allowed it to work properly.
• She highlights multiple benefits of sobriety: improved sleep, emotional stability, stronger relationships, better skin, weight loss, and energy.
• Chez believes that habit change takes time — research shows that 66 days is long enough to break old habits and form new ones.
• She encourages others to take the #Sober66 Challenge — not just to stop drinking, but to assess their relationship with alcohol and what might be holding them back.

So if Chez has inspired you then just go to tribesober.com and click on the membership tab – everyone who signs up as a member before September 1st will automatically be added to the Challenge and

If you want to read more about the challenge then click on the Sober66 banner on our website homepage

Next week we’ll be featuring another #Sober66 Challenger so don’t forget to tune in!

• • If you're looking for a community then try Tribe Sober!

  More info

  • Tools & Resources in Tribe Sober
  • Member Journey Course (7 modules: psychology, biology, neuroscience)
  • Members Vault with searchable tips and content
  • Daily check-ins, trackers, 5 Zooms meetings a week – to suit all timezones Personal guidance from coaches, ambassadors, and cheerleaders

  Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE

  • To access our website click HERE
  • If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
  • If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

  This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

  Help us to spread the word!

  We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

  We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

  You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

  You can join our private Facebook group HERE

  Thank you for listening!

My guest this week is Becca Jacobson who has a remarkable life story to share..

She’s written a brave memoir which is called From Prostitute to Professor and summarises her journey of personal transformation so get ready to be inspired!

In this episode:

• Becca entered the sex industry as an exotic dancer in her 20s while she was struggling with alcohol dependency.
• During this period her mom launched an escort agency and recruited Becca and her sister to work alongside her
• Although none of her family had attended college Becca was determined to pursue higher education and was accepted in 3 different colleges.
• She earned 3 degrees and taught English and Writing for 20 years.
• However the drinking continued and Becca reveals how shame, secrecy, and isolation kept her trapped in binge drinking for decades, even while functioning professionally.
• After 11 visits to detox and countless failed attempts to quit drinking her turning point came in 2018 after an 8-day blackout that led her to finally speak the truth and accept some help
• A detox center and an eight-week treatment program marked the beginning of her lasting recovery.
• We both agreed on the critical role of community in sobriety and the danger of trying to recover in isolation.
• It was only when Becca stopped hiding her problem and asked for help that things began to change.
• Journaling became a key tool in Becca’s healing, eventually leading her to write and publish her memoir: Prostitute to Professor: A Guide to Radical Transformation.
• These days she encourages women to create space for self-reflection, and now offers virtual retreats and an 8-week coaching program for women over 40.
• Becca shares practical tips for women, including how to carve out time for themselves and establish boundaries during recovery.
• Today, she’s passionate about helping women reclaim their lives, find purpose, and embrace sobriety with pride.
• You can connect with Becca at beccajacobson.com and listen to her podcast which is called Sober Living Snippets.
  • If you're looking for a community then try Tribe Sober!

  More info

  • Tools & Resources in Tribe Sober
  • Member Journey Course (7 modules: psychology, biology, neuroscience)
  • Members Vault with searchable tips and content
  • Daily check-ins, trackers, 5 Zooms meetings a week – to suit all timezones Personal guidance from coaches, ambassadors, and cheerleaders

  Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE

  • To access our website click HERE
  • If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
  • If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

  This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

  Help us to spread the word!

  We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

  We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

  You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

  You can join our private Facebook group HERE

  Thank you for listening!

My guest this week is British Marketing Guru – Teresa Heath Wareing

• Teresa struggled to answer when I asked her when she started drinking – that’s because she felt that alcohol was always there . Drinking was normalized in her family - and ever-present in both celebrations and crises.
• From high-flying marketing roles to becoming a solo business owner, drinking remained central – even becoming part of her identity – G & T with T was a regular feature!
• Despite appearing very functional, Teresa was secretly struggling. A pivotal moment came when she was too hungover to say goodbye to her daughter on a Monday morning.
• Years of therapy helped her gradually acknowledge her dependence. She tracked over 100 units of alcohol in a week – a shocking realization especially when the UK low risk limits are only 14!
• Like many of us, she tried to control her drinking but found that moderation was impossible. Her husband drank the same amount but didn’t seem to have a problem – he had an off switch whereas Teresa didn’t!
• Getting sober in 2023 was the hardest thing she’s ever done. Her struggle was a long one and It took nearly a year before she began to feel good again.
• Teresa kept her sobriety private at first, worried how it would affect her brand. Eventually, she shared her story through a 15-episode podcast: Losing Part of Me.
• Her benefits of sobriety included
  • More energy and focus – leading to greater business success.
  • Improved relationships, especially with her husband.
  • She began to love herself again Top Sobriety Tips:
    • Treat sobriety as your main project.
    • Be patient – healing takes time.
    • Replace drinking with meaningful goals or passions (e.g. her garden).
    • Join a community for support and accountability.

Teresa’s Message to listeners: “If you’re listening to this, that’s the sign you need.

Sobriety is hard – but joining a community will get you through...

• If you're looking for a community then try Tribe Sober!

More info

• Tools & Resources in Tribe Sober
• Member Journey Course (7 modules: psychology, biology, neuroscience)
• Members Vault with searchable tips and content
• Daily check-ins, trackers, 5 Zooms meetings a week – to suit all timezones Personal guidance from coaches, ambassadors, and cheerleaders

Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE

• To access our website click HERE
• If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
• If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

Help us to spread the word!

We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can join our private Facebook group HERE

Thank you for listening!

My guest this week is Deb from Kentucky – aka Mocktail Mom

This was her second time on the show - click here to listen to the first interview

In this episode:-

• Deb quit drinking on December 31, 2020.
• She originally took a break to evaluate her drinking and felt so good she just kept going!
• Deb was a Late Starter and only started drinking heavily in her 40s during after her divorce.
• Like many of us she was a Gray Area Drinker: She often found herself drinking more than she had intended, particularly when she was alone on weekends without her kids.
• Debs Turning Point: came when she realized that alcohol was taking up too much mental space
• I loved her analogy of the ticker tape of breaking news that we see on tv – Deb felt she had an alcohol related ticker tape constantly turning in the background of her mind!
• She joined a sobriety challenge in January 2021 and community did the trick
• It was a breakthrough for Deb when she finally accepted that moderation wasn’t working for her
• Like many of us she discovered it was easier to stop completely altogether than to try to control it.
• This is because alcohol changes our brain chemistry – once we have crossed the line into dependence just one drink can trigger intense cravings
• I wish someone had explained that to me before I spent 10 long years trying (and failing) to control my drinking!
• Deb's Top 3 Benefits of Sobriety:
  • Freedom from ticker tape mental chatter about alcohol.
  • No more waking up with guilt and shame.
  • Confidence and trust in herself (she gave that example of being able to collect her daughters if they called her in the evening.)
• Mocktail Mom Platform:
  • Deb shares mocktail recipes and alcohol-free fun on Instagram and TikTok.
  • Created a mocktail recipe book: The Happiest Hour.
  • Learn more via her website mocktailmom.com
• Both Deb and myself are breast cancer survivors. We didn’t know about the alcohol-cancer link when we were drinking so are keen to let as many women as possible understand that alcohol is linked to 7 types of cancer
• Debs Sobriety Advice:
  • Don’t think in terms of “forever.” Take it one day or one event at a time.
  • Don’t worry about future events (e.g., weddings or trips).
  • Celebrate any alcohol-free progress; it all adds up.

• Her last tip was to get support—having a community made all the difference for her
• If you're looking for a community then try Tribe Sober!

More info

• Tools & Resources in Tribe Sober
• Member Journey Course (7 modules: psychology, biology, neuroscience)
• Members Vault with searchable tips and content
• Daily check-ins, trackers, 5 Zooms meetings a week – to suit all timezones Personal guidance from coaches, ambassadors, and cheerleaders

Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE

• To access our website click HERE
• If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
• If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

Help us to spread the word!

We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can join our private Facebook group HERE

Thank you for listening!

My guest this week is Sobriety Coach Rachael Shephard, mom of 2 young boys and author of "Sober Mama"

• In this episode:- Early Drinking Years
  • Rachael always drank to excess, experienced frequent blackouts, and never had an off-switch.
  • Used to look forward to drinking like a child anticipates Christmas.
• The Turning Point
  • By her late 30s, Rachel felt exhausted and sick and tired… of feeling sick and tired
  • A boozy holiday made her realize she needed to stop—shaking in the morning was her wake-up call.
• The Role of Motherhood
  • Drinking increased after having children—became a way to cope with stress.
  • Once sober, found motherhood became easier, with more energy, patience, and connection.
• Challenges in Early Sobriety
  • First few weeks involved sugar cravings, extreme fatigue, and boredom.
  • Found a "pink cloud" of euphoria around two weeks, followed by a flat period of low motivation.
  • I loved her story about struggling to find something that was “fun” in early sobriety – so she spent her time organizing and decluttering her home so that life would be easier when she began to feel better
• Mindset Shift
  • Realized alcohol was the cause of her anxiety, not the cure.
  • Rejected the “mommy juice” culture and recognized societal normalization of addiction.
• Sober Coaching & Writing
  • I loved Rachael’s sobriety timeline which she uses as a coaching framework.
  • She has written a book called “Sober Mama” to centralize tools, stories, and support in one place.
• Advice for Others
  • Suggests people try sobriety for just two weeks and take daily photos to see the transformation.
  • Like us at Tribe Sober Rachael avoids the word "forever"—encouraging Sober Stretches of 30- or 90-days
• Where to Find Rachel
  • Her book is available in UK bookstores and on Amazon.
  • Coaching and resources at sobermama.co.uk

More info

• Tools & Resources in Tribe Sober
• Member Journey Course (7 modules: psychology, biology, neuroscience)
• Members Vault with searchable tips and content
• Daily check-ins, trackers, 5 Zooms meetings a week – to suit all timezones Personal guidance from coaches, ambassadors, and cheerleaders

Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE

• To access our website click HERE
• If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
• If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

Help us to spread the word!

We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can join our private Facebook group HERE

Thank you for listening!

We’re featuring the soundtrack from our recent Webinar in this episode

If you’d like to see the Webinar slides while you’re listening then click here to access Webinar on our You Tube channel

During the Webinar:-

• We focussed a lot on mindset which is so much more powerful than willpower
• Quitting drinking isn't about deprivation—it's about transformation.
• We don’t have a drinking problem—we have a life-changing opportunity!

1. Change Your Mindset
   • Undo decades of conditioning from marketing and culture.
   • You do that by Educating yourself with books, podcasts, and Tribe Sober content.
   • We need to Reframe quitting – we’re not missing out – we’re gaining: health, peace, energy, sleep, time.
2. Rewire Your Brain
   • Willpower isn’t enough—use repetition and neuroplasticity.
   • Build new habits with tools, practices, and support.
   • The “pause” before a drink = golden moment for change.
3. Find Your People
   • Connection is the opposite of addiction.
   • Tribe Sober provides role models, accountability, and encouragement.
   • "You’ve come home" – shared experience creates rapid bonding.

• Member Journey Course (7 modules: psychology, biology, neuroscience)
• Members Vault with searchable tips and content
• Daily check-ins, trackers, 5 Zooms meetings a week – to suit all timezones Personal guidance from coaches, ambassadors, and cheerleaders

• More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE
• To access our website click HERE
• If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
• If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

Help us to spread the word!

We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can join our private Facebook group HERE

Thank you for listening!

Tribe Sober - inpiring an alcohol-free life!

My guest this week is Podcast Business Coach and Weight Loss Guru - Adam Schaeuble.

His story is similar to mine in that he resolved his own issues and then went on to help others to do the same

In this Episode

• Adam shared his personal transformation story with us
• We agreed that many of the methods he uses to help his community can be used in the Tribe Sober community
• The first step - asking for help - is the hardest - we have to put our ego to one side and reach out
• Adam uses a strategic approach with his clients - gets them to plan 28 days in advance and look for "danger zones"
• We discussed the importance of not letting a "slip up" derail you - just get back on track straight away
• Anchor points are essential - they give you a dopamine hit to keep going forward
• Adam explained the difference between motivation and inspiration - we need to be inspired if we are going to succeed
• If you don't feel inspired then get some coaching - if you come to the coaching session "motivated" you will leave "inspired"
• He shared his transformation timeline with us - and stressed the importance of finding a new purpose at the end of the journey
• More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE
• To access our website click HERE
• If you would like a free copy of our e-book "66 days to sobriety" please email us at janet@tribesober.com
• If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community just email janet@tribesober.com Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today.

Help us to spread the word!

We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can join our private Facebook group HERE

Thank you for listening!

Tribe Sober - Your guide to alcohol-free living!

This week I'm chatting to an inspirational woman Mary Ann Shearer who is a best selling author and a motivational speaker.

In this Episode

• Mary Ann is a woman before her time and was advocating veganism thirty years ago!
• Her first book "The Natural Way" was written more than 20 years ago
• She explained that if you give your children lots of sweet things it sets them up for alcohol dependency later in life
• Mary Ann had alcoholic parents and as a result she craves order and control and has never drunk alcohol
• We agreed that children of alcoholic parents tend to be like her - or they tend to follow the pattern of their parents
• She advised people who have stopped drinking to satisfy their cravings by eating fresh fruit not chocolates or sweets
• Our bodies need glucose and eating fresh fruit satisfies the craving for alcohol
• Mary Ann feels that alcoholics are clever people who need a creative outlet - sobriety will give them the time and space to find one
• She explained the damage that alcohol does to our endocrine system - and how it makes menopause much worse
• To find out more about Mary Ann go to her website - https://maryannshearer.com/ - her book is called "Perfect Health - The Natural Way" available on Amazon
• More info Subscription membership for Tribe Sober join up HERE To access our website click HERE To join our January Challenge click HERE - a small donation to a good cause will provide you with community and online support during January
• If you want to go it alone and would still like one of our trackers then email us at janet@tribesober.com

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program. If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today. Read more about our 8-step program and subscribe HERE.

Help us to spread the word!

We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help. Please subscribe and share.

We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning.

You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can catch our FB live on Saturday mornings (11am SAST) and you can join our private Facebook group HERE

Thank you for listening!

Till Next Week

Janet x