What does it mean to reconnect to yourself after you stop drinking? This episode of The Big Drink Rethink dives deep into the journey from escapism and numbing through alcohol to living with “radical integrity” and honouring your true values, even when it’s uncomfortable. Host Anna Donaghey welcomes Lauren Burnison, founder of pioneering sober travel company, We Love Lucid and a compelling, raw writer who has built a vibrant community around honest conversations about sobriety, travel, and motherhood. Lauren shares her rollercoaster story, from early drinking and navigating mean-girl school culture, through wild adventures and substance-fuelled escapes in South America and Asia, to the turning point that led her to choose sobriety for good. Together, they explore why so many of us turn to drinking to self-abandon, how to find meaning beyond alcohol, and what it really looks like to live in alignment with your values even if you don’t always have all the answers. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Introduction: Meet Lauren Burnison founder of the sober travel company, We Love Lucid 04:40 Teenage anxiety and self-doubt often lead Lauren to drink alcohol 09:50 Travel, drugs, and alcohol often intertwine 12:03 Alcohol and drugs often create a false sense of connection 16:48 Turbulent travel experiences led to teaching in safer South Korea. 18:32 Hit rock bottom in South Korea 22:19 A mix of grace and meeting a sober friend helped sustain the decision not to drink. 25:49 Reflecting on nine years of sobriety 28:25 Practicing radical integrity by listening to gut feelings and pausing on desires without clear reasons. 30:54 Tuning into emotions and body helps identify what you need 39:07 Quitting alcohol empowers you to feel capable of anything 41:40 Recognise and fulfill your current needs, to nourish and support personal growth 47:36 Anna highly recommends Lauren’s newsletter. Anna’s group coaching community ‘Unstuck!’ helps identify your alcohol ‘stories’ and beliefs, breaking the cycle of alcohol and all the shame that goes with it. For more information and to find out how to join, please follow this link: https://www.winetowatercoaching.com/unstuck-1 To further explore your relationship with alcohol, check out Anna’s self-guided programme, The Big Drink Rethink Experiment: https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/the-big-drink-rethink-experiment And apply the code POD99 to purchase for just £99 as a podcast listener. If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink About the host Anna: Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do. Connect with Anna: Website: thebeliefscoach.com LinkedIn: ...
