I had no idea it would become one of the biggest turning points of my life.
That's one of the reasons I was so excited to sit down with Kate Bee. Kate is the founder of Sober School and has helped thousands of women change their relationship with alcohol. What I love about her approach is that it isn't about labels, shame or hitting rock bottom. It's about asking a simple question:
Is alcohol adding to your life, or taking away from it?
We talk about why women in midlife are now among the biggest drinkers, how wine became wrapped up in ideas of self-care and reward, and why so many successful, capable women find themselves relying on alcohol simply to switch off at the end of the day.
Kate also explains grey area drinking, that space where life still looks perfectly fine from the outside, yet alcohol is quietly affecting your sleep, anxiety, confidence, relationships and overall wellbeing. It's a conversation I think so many women need to hear because you don't have to lose everything before deciding something needs to change.
We also explore the science behind alcohol, why cravings can feel so automatic, how habits become wired into the brain, and why hangovers are often far more than simply "having one too many."
Most importantly, we talk about what actually helps. Kate shares the approach she teaches through Sober School, including mindset, education, community and practical tools that make changing your relationship with alcohol feel empowering rather than restrictive. We also discuss taking a break from drinking, navigating social situations, alcohol-free alternatives, and why you don't have to commit to "forever" before discovering how much better you might feel.
Whether you're sober curious, questioning your drinking, navigating perimenopause, or simply wondering if alcohol is holding you back more than you realise, I think you'll find this conversation incredibly honest, encouraging and full of hope.
Because sometimes the biggest changes in our lives don't begin by adding something new.
They begin by letting something go.