E7 - Not So Secretly Sober

In this very special episode of The Sober Freedom Podcast, Christal and Lisa are joined by the brilliantly funny, refreshingly honest and wonderfully relatable Victoria Vanstone.

As Christal and Lisa wrap up an incredible first season of The Sober Freedom Podcast, they take a heartfelt look back at the powerful conversations and remarkable guests who have graced the mic. Throughout the season, some key themes have consistently emerged — each shedding light on the complex and often hidden ways alcohol affects our lives: How alcohol intensifies the challenges of ADHD, peri/menopause, anxiety, and overall mental and physical wellbeing

Lisa and Christal are joined by Vicky, founder of My Happy Balance, as she reflects on the life-changing moment that led her to sobriety five years ago. A sense of deep disconnection at a friend’s wedding became the turning point, prompting Vicky to take an honest look at her relationship with alcohol—and she didn’t like what she saw. Vicky opens up about the inner conflict she faced: the overwhelming desire to stop using alcohol as a coping mechanism while still feeling the pull to drink. She shares how she created rules to mask her drinking habits and the justifications she clung to in an attempt to stop. We also dive into the societal pressures that kept her stuck—the fear of how friends might react if she chose sobriety—and how the isolation of the COVID lockdown forced her to make a choice: let her drinking spiral or stop altogether. Drawing on her expertise as a health and nutrition coach, Vicky explores the physical impact of alcohol on the body, particularly how it can worsen symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Her approach at My Happy Balance focuses on adding more of the "good stuff"—strength training, nutrition, and wellness—to support women through life’s challenging transitions. Today, Vicky is thriving. Five years sober and nearly five years into running My Happy Balance, she shares how sobriety was the foundation for building the business and life she has today. Fun fact: Christal, Vicky, and our producer Matt know each other from the party scene (almost 20 years ago)—and now, years later, they've come full circle, reconnecting through the podcast for a powerful and inspiring conversation. Connect with Vicky: Website: My Happy Balance Instagram: @MyHappyBalance

In this heartfelt episode, Lisa and Christal sit down for a much-needed catch-up, reflecting on the powerful personal stories and professional insights shared by recent guests. They open up about the changes they’ve been making in their own lives, including new practices they’re exploring to support their mental health, wellbeing, and personal growth. The episode also dives into their restorative experience at The Goddess Movement day retreat – a space dedicated to healing, empowerment, and connection. Curious to learn more about the retreat? Head over to Instagram: @thegoddess_wellness_movement

In this powerful and compassionate episode, Lisa and Christal are in conversation with Nadine Pittam, a counsellor, psychotherapist, to explore what really lies beneath our drinking habits. Together, we dig into the deeper emotional roots of alcohol use—and the liberation that comes from finally facing the pain that alcohol has been masking. So often, alcohol isn’t the problem—it’s the solution we’ve turned to in order to silence discomfort, override our feelings, and survive in a world full of social expectations. But what happens when we stop drinking alcohol and all those emotions rise to the surface? In this episode, we unpack: Why alcohol is often used as a coping strategy rather than the core issue