Show Notes
This week on No More Booze, I’m joined by Karl Elliott @thekarlelliott, who’s coming up on 10 years alcohol-free and living near Ascot in the UK. Carl takes us right back to drinking at 13, the daily pub routine and the moment he realised he couldn’t keep rolling the dice—especially when he became a dad. We talk about One Year No Beer, why community and accountability can change everything and what the first 90 days really felt like: withdrawals, sugar cravings, deep sleep, and life coming back in colour. Karl also shares the story behind his book, I Believe in You and the advice he’d give his younger self: give yourself a hug and let that little child out. Karl Elliott is an alcohol-free coach, mentor and author who helps men and women over 35 not only quit drinking, but redefine who they become afterwards. Growing up working-class in Yorkshire, Karl spent years driving lorries and drinking every day. In June 2016, he stopped drinking and has been alcohol-free ever since. The biggest lesson he learned was that stopping isn’t the finish line. Many people remove alcohol but still feel stuck, waiting for the happier, healthier version of themselves to appear. Karl calls this the “identity lag”. Through Press Pause 90, Karl helps people navigate their first 90 days alcohol-free. Through Redefine 90, he helps them close the identity gap, rebuilding confidence, purpose and a sense of who they are beyond alcohol. His memoir, I Believe In You: A Father’s Journey From Daily Drinker to Redefining Himself, is due for release later this year and tells the story behind his own transformation. Karl Elliott — Alcohol-Free Coach, Mentor & Author Website: https://www.thekarlelliott.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekarlelliott YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@the.karlelliott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekarlelliott Email: [email protected] Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: Sunday; The Day We Get Back — Olivia Farrelly For more information on my Alcohol Audit check out The No More Booze Roadmap · 1:1 Consultation with Olivia Farrelly For more information on the No More Booze Coaching Package No More Booze 1:1 | Four x 60-minute coaching sessions Or to simply to find out if alcohol is taking more than it is giving, take my free online quiz now Am I A Grey Area Drinker? — Free 2-Minute Quiz
More from No More Booze - The Podcast
This week's guest is Kim Bellis from Montreal who is the founder of @sober.is.the.new.cool. Kim shares the moment that she decided to leave alcohol behind: her son Matthew’s epilepsy diagnosis and her decision to stop drinking so he wouldn’t feel alone. Thirteen years later, Kim is still alcohol-free and the ripple effect is huge. She talks honestly about the social pressure, the liquid courage myth, and the unexpected gifts of sobriety: better sleep, calmer anxiety, stronger self-esteem, and learning she can do hard things without a drink (including walking at New York Fashion Week at 62).You’ll also hear the story behind Sober Is The New Cool, the White Heart Initiative and why a simple I am practice can help you start believing you’re enough. Kim Bellas, affectionately known worldwide as Kim Mummy, is the founder and driving force behind Sober is the New Cool, a growing international wellness movement inspiring people to live healthier, happier, and more meaningful lives. With nearly 14 years of sobriety and appearances on over 150 podcasts, Kim has become a passionate international voice for wellness, kindness, compassion, and the power of human connection. A visionary and dedicated community builder, Kim created the International Recovery Wellness Walk, bringing together participants from 40 countries, the annual White Party in New York City, uniting women through inspiration and meaningful connections, and the White Heart Initiative, spreading messages of love and hope around the world. Known for her warmth, authenticity, and extraordinary ability to connect people from all walks of life, Kim believes true wellness extends far beyond sobriety. It’s about giving back, inspiring others, and reminding people everywhere that they matter. Her mission 'Helping to heal the world, one person at a time. We are all recovering from something'. Enjoy! Find out about Kim's work here: Sober is the New Cool | Wellness, Community & Support Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: Sunday; The Day We Get Back — Olivia Farrelly For more information on my Alcohol Audit check out The No More Booze Roadmap · 1:1 Consultation with Olivia Farrelly For more information on the No More Booze Coaching Package No More Booze 1:1 | Four x 60-minute coaching sessions Or to simply to find out if alcohol is taking more than it is giving, take my free online quiz now Am I A Grey Area Drinker? — Free 2-Minute Quiz
This week on No More Booze, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Gillian O’Shea Brown (joining us from New York, originally from Cork) to talk trauma, healing and what it really means to come home to yourself. We talk about her stunning new book, Psyche’s Awakening and why she used Greek mythology as a psychological map for self-understanding, like what a stunning concept! We discuss complex trauma, the hero’s journey, ego death and why it’s not why are you use alcohol but what are you trying NOT to feel by drinking? Plus: intuition vs trauma (loud vs quiet), EMDR, self-love without narcissism, social pruning and two powerful exercises from the book—including the Erotic Emotional Map. We also talk about Chiron, the wounded healer, a figure who teaches and heals others through his own suffering. Enjoy! Dr. Gillian O’Shea Brown is a New York based psychotherapist, adjunct asst. professor at NYU, and EMDRIA approved consultant passionate about whole living for all people. Her work on the treatment and healing of complex trauma (relational trauma) has been featured internationally. She uses an integrative blend of trauma informed evidenced based modalities including: EMDR, IFS (Ego State Work), DBT, TF-CBT and Somatic Techniques to treat her clients. Her first book, entitled Healing Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Clinician’s Guide (2021, Springer) was designed to provide trauma-informed therapists with psychoeducation. Inspired to share her wisdom outside of the classroom she created Psyche's Awakening (2026,HarperOne). Find more on Dr. O'Shea Brown's work here: https://www.drgillianosheabrown.com/ Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: Sunday; The Day We Get Back — Olivia Farrelly For more information on my Alcohol Audit check out The No More Booze Roadmap · 1:1 Consultation with Olivia Farrelly For more information on the No More Booze Coaching Package No More Booze 1:1 | Four x 60-minute coaching sessions Or to simply to find out if alcohol is taking more than it is giving, take my free online quiz now Am I A Grey Area Drinker? — Free 2-Minute Quiz
This week on No More Booze, I’m joined by expert guest Sharan Verma, aka The Fatty Liver Nutritionist @fattylivernutritionist, for a proper deep dive into our beautiful pink organ, the liver and why it deserves way more attention than it gets. Sharan shares the personal story behind her work, the shocking stats around fatty liver and why liver disease can be silent for years. We talk liver function tests, ultrasounds and fibroscans and what to ask your GP for. Plus: what a liver-friendly diet actually looks like, the gut–liver connection, fibre, coffee, fermented foods, stress, sleep, and small sustainable changes that really add up. I love my liver. Sharan Verma specialises in helping people improve and reverse fatty liver through practical, evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle changes. An ex-NHS Health Coach a Global Liver Institute A3 Committee member and Liver UK lay reviewer, Sharan is passionate about breaking the stigma and misconception around fatty liver, because you don’t have to drink alcohol to have it. Learn more about Sharan's work here: Liver Health Program Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: Sunday; The Day We Get Back — Olivia Farrelly For more information on my Alcohol Audit check out The No More Booze Roadmap · 1:1 Consultation with Olivia Farrelly For more information on the No More Booze Coaching Package No More Booze 1:1 | Four x 60-minute coaching sessions Or to simply to find out if alcohol is taking more than it is giving, take my free online quiz now Am I A Grey Area Drinker? — Free 2-Minute Quiz
This week on No More Booze I’m joined by not one, but two guests: Natalie and Shane from @soberight, a sober couple with two very different stories and one shared mission: making alcohol-free life look (and feel) normal, doable and actually really cool. We chat about growing up in Scotland and Ireland where drinking is just what you do, the anxiety and blackouts that can come with 'normal' weekends and how Shane’s night in Valencia (lost phone, wallet, keys… and a police map home) led him to meet Natalie and ultimately rethink everything. We also get into bridging the gap in early sobriety, getting time on the board, weddings and concerts without booze, identity shifts, backlash online and Natalie’s practical nutrition tips for cravings, sugar and self-compassion at the start. Enjoy! Find out more about Shane and Natalie here Soberight | Alcohol & Our Wellbeing | CPD Accredited Training Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: Sunday; The Day We Get Back — Olivia Farrelly For more information on my Alcohol Audit check out The No More Booze Roadmap · 1:1 Consultation with Olivia Farrelly For more information on the No More Booze Coaching Package No More Booze 1:1 | Four x 60-minute coaching sessions Or to simply to find out if alcohol is taking more than it is giving, take my free online quiz now Am I A Grey Area Drinker? — Free 2-Minute Quiz
This week I'm join by Lisa Larkin and Anna Hanbury from Coolmine Therapeutic Community. @coolmine.tc. Coolmine offers community, day and residential services with a self help approach to help people overcome addiction. This podcast was recorded to help raise awareness for this year's Sober October. Go Sober in October is a challenge to raise vital funds for Coolmine and help to break intergenerational cycles of addiction. Anna Hanbury is in recovery since 2023 and is absolutely thriving in her sobriety. She is in the process of completing her Level 6 in Addiction Studies and recently qualified as a recovery coach. She now has a role as a support worker, using what she's learned and her experience every day. Her commitment to recovery has restored her sense of self-worth and reconnected her with her family, especially her mother, who stood by her through her darkest times. Grateful for the support of Coolmine and Ashleigh House, Anna now wakes up every day with a positive outlook, embracing the future with hope and determination. Lisa has over 16 years’ experience in social care, much of which she has developed through her work with Coolmine Therapeutic Community, supporting individuals and families affected by addiction. She has led addiction recovery services through periods of growth and change, with a strong commitment to quality, person-centred and evidence-based care. Lisa has experience across a range of treatment approaches and has a particular passion for the Therapeutic Community model. She is an accredited TC Lead Reviewer with Communities of Communities, Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK), supporting therapeutic communities to strengthen practice and maintain quality standards. Lisa is also a Board member of the European Community Education and Training for Therapeutic Communities (ECETT), connecting her with international developments and innovation in addiction recovery. She is currently completing an MSc in Addiction Recovery at Trinity College Dublin and is passionate about compassionate, effective care that improves outcomes for individuals and families. I hope you enjoy hearing these incredible ladies speak. For further information or to get in contact with the incredible team at Coolmine: Coolmine TC – Coolmine TC Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: Sunday; The Day We Get Back — Olivia Farrelly For more information on my Alcohol Audit check out The No More Booze Roadmap · 1:1 Consultation with Olivia Farrelly For more information on the No More Booze Coaching Package No More Booze 1:1 | Four x 60-minute coaching sessions Or to simply to find out if alcohol is taking more than it is giving, take my free online quiz now Am I A Grey Area Drinker? — Free 2-Minute Quiz