Ep 38: The Tash & Holly Show | Sober Dating Disasters, Social Anxiety, The Pain We Caused Others & Self Forgiveness

This week’s episode of The Clear Head Club Podcast is a really special one for me. I’m sitting on the sofa with my friend Gaz for a raw, honest and deeply emotional conversation about addiction, hitting rock bottom and finding your way back. Gaz is an incredible human being who has worked unbelievably hard to claw himself out of the depths of addiction, rebuild his life and find his way back to himself. Not just back to who he was, but towards becoming the best version of himself. This conversation is a powerful reminder that no matter how far you fall, what you’ve been through or how impossible things might feel right now, change is possible. We talk about the reality of addiction, the fight to turn your life around, and what it takes to rebuild yourself when you’ve reached a place you never thought you’d come back from. It’s honest. It’s emotional. It’s inspiring. And it’s a conversation I think so many people need to hear. Whether you’re struggling yourself, supporting someone you love, navigating your own challenges or simply looking for a reminder of what human beings are capable of, I promise there is something in this episode for you. You don’t need to have experienced addiction to connect with Gaz’s story. Wherever you’re from, whatever you’ve been through and wherever you are in life, I hope this conversation reminds you that your past doesn’t have to define your future. I’m so proud of Gaz and everything he’s worked for to get to where he is today. I’m grateful he was willing to sit down with me and share his story so honestly. Please give this one a listen. I think you’ll understand why it means so much to me.

In this episode I’m joined by Kaitlin Reeve, the woman behind @sobersasamotherfocused for a completely raw, open and honest conversation about addiction, motherhood and sobriety. We talk about what it was really like raising children while living in addiction, the guilt and shame that can come with it, and the difference sobriety makes to the way we parent, connect and experience motherhood. We talk about the mothers we were, the mothers we became, and the things we wish we could go back and change. There’s no sugar-coating addiction here. No pretending we had it all together. Just two mums talking honestly about the reality of addiction and what happens when you finally get sober. If you’re a mum struggling with alcohol or addiction, sober, sober curious, or simply want to understand more about the impact addiction can have on motherhood, I think this conversation will really resonate with you. Raw. Honest. Vulnerable. And ultimately, incredibly hopeful. Find Kaitlin on Instagram: @sobersasamotherfocused

What does alcohol REALLY do to your body? We all know alcohol can make us feel rough the next day, but what is actually happening inside your body when you drink? In this solo episode of The Clear Head Club Podcast, I’m breaking down the reality of alcohol, from what it does to your brain, your body and even your appearance. We’re talking about the difference between blacking out and passing out, why both can be dangerous, what alcohol is actually doing while your body is processing it, why it can leave you looking and feeling bloated, and the effects it can have on your skin, face and overall appearance. I’m combining the real science with my own personal experiences of drinking, blackouts and what I noticed about my body and appearance when alcohol was part of my life. This isn’t about scare tactics. It’s about knowing the reality of what you’re putting into your body. Because alcohol has been normalised for so long that most of us have never actually stopped to ask: what is this stuff really doing to me? If you drink, have ever drunk heavily, have experienced blackouts or simply want to understand alcohol beyond the usual “drink responsibly” message, this is an episode you’ll want to hear.

This week on The Tash and Holly Show.… Friendships changing in sobriety, what to say when people ask why you don’t drink, what actually keeps us sober, alcohol, drugs and fake confidence, and those “good times” we remember having when we were drinking. We also talk about natural highs, authentic fun and one very memorable Sober Sisters hike where things got a little more free-spirited than usual! Because getting sober isn’t about giving up fun, confidence, connection or amazing memories. It’s about discovering that you can experience all of those things without alcohol or drugs. And sometimes the highs you get from actually being present, connected and completely yourself are better than anything alcohol ever gave you. As always, honest conversations, plenty of laughs and absolutely no bullshit. Keep sending us your topics and you might hear yours on the next show! Tash & Holly x

If you want to get sober and change your life, you need to hear this episode. This is not an easy conversation about sobriety. This is about taking responsibility. And I do not hold back. There are some harsh reminders in this episode. Some uncomfortable truths. Some valuable life lessons that I believe we all need to hear, whether we are struggling with alcohol or simply know that something in our life needs to change. Because at some point, we have to stop waiting for somebody else to fix it. We have to stop blaming our circumstances, our past, our relationships, our stress, our childhood, our jobs, other people or alcohol itself. We have to be willing to look honestly at our own choices and take responsibility for what we do next. That doesn’t mean blaming yourself. It doesn’t mean beating yourself up. It means recognising that you have more power than you might think. In this episode, I’m talking about what taking responsibility really looks like when you’re trying to get sober, the excuses that can keep you stuck, the uncomfortable questions you need to ask yourself and why your life can start changing when you stop waiting for someone or something else to change it for you. And I’m not just giving you harsh truths. I’m giving you practical tips, questions and exercises you can actually do to start taking responsibility for your life today. If you’re drinking and desperately want things to change, if you’ve tried to get sober before, if you keep finding yourself stuck in the same patterns, or if you know deep down that it’s time to stop making excuses and start doing something differently… Listen to this episode. It might be uncomfortable. It might challenge you. It might make you look at yourself differently. But it could also be the reminder you needed to finally change your life.