S3 Ep76: Justin Jones: The Father
In this episode we chat to wonderful Justin Jones, who's now over 4 years alcohol-free! Justin has the most dreadful year in 2016. He and his wife Lucy were expecting twins when on Boxing Day (four months before the due date) they were rushed in to hospital. The boys were born incredibly early and weighed next to nothing - and tragically, after they'd been released from hospital months later a...
59m Sep 05, 2022
59m
S3 Ep75: Charlie & Joey (Young & Sober): Maisy's Story
Once a month Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free. In this episode, they talk to Maisy - a 22 year old who gave up alcohol 101 days ago! Maisy talks to Charlie & Joey about what it was like to give up alcohol whilst in hospital. It wasn't just alcohol that contributed to he...
46m Aug 29, 2022
46m
S3 Ep74: Laura Jarvis: The Alcohol and Drugs Service
In this episode we chat to Laura Jarvis from The Alcohol and Drugs Service which works in Doncaster, Hull and East Riding in the North of England. Laura has worked for The Alcohol and Drugs Service for 15 years. She started off working with clients directly, but now works for their Generis service which works with employers and schools who have issues with drugs and alcohol in the workforce an...
56m Aug 22, 2022
56m
S3 Ep73: Jenny Downs: 1000 Days Alcohol Free
In this episode we chat to one of our fabulous OTI Community members, Jenny Downs, on the day that she hit 1000 days alcohol free! Jenny has been on the podcast before and told us her story about why she decided to remove alcohol - in this episode she gives us an update on what's happened to her since the last time we spoke, and there have been some pretty monumental changes! Jenny is in her ...
51m Aug 15, 2022
51m
S3 Ep72: Andy Ramage: Coaching The Coaches
In this episode we chat to the AF legend, Andy Ramage! Andy is over 8 years alcohol-free himself and when he decided to rethink his drinking, the AF landscape was very different. Andy is a pioneer of the idea that, as he calls them, "middle lane drinkers" can see the benefits of giving up alcohol no matter where they are on the drinking scale - and once he ditched booze for good himself, so ma...
58m Aug 08, 2022
58m
S3 Ep71: Charlie & Joey (Young & Sober): AF Dating, Sex & Relationships
Once a month Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free. In this episode, they talk about what it's like to be single and on the dating scene to being in relationships when you decide to give up alcohol - from dry dating (which is a growing trend amongst all age groups) to sober ...
46m Aug 01, 2022
46m
S3 Ep70: Linsey Hydrick: The Listener
In this episode we chat to Linsey Hydrick in America, who found Over The Influence after Shaz appeared on Annie Grace's podcast... And she has listened ever since! Linsey wanted to come on and tell us her story as she's been on an alcohol-free journey for the past eleven years. Drinking for Linsey always created problems, right from when she went on a school trip to Europe and was reprimanded ...
51m Jul 25, 2022
51m
S3 Ep69: The Premium Podcast Special
Today the majority of schools in the UK break up for the six week summer holidays... So we thought it would be a great time to release this, our Premium Podcast Special! If you don't know already, every single week we release an extra edition of Over The Influence just for our subscribers and community members. It's Shaz and Ben wanging on about whatever AF topic they want to bring to the tabl...
47m Jul 22, 2022
47m
S3 Ep67: Daniel: The AA Ambassador
In this episode we chat to Daniel from Lancashire, who's been an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for nearly 17 years. Daniel talks to us about his journey to AA, and how a conversation with a tourist when he was working abroad completely changed his life. He also talks about how he didn't know what to expect when he attended his first AA meeting, but even all these years later he remembe...
53m Jul 18, 2022
53m
S3 Ep68: Ben Anderson: The Producer
In this episode Shaz puts Ben in the hot seat as a guest, as he's celebrating being two years alcohol free! Ben started producing this podcast when he was a drinker - and he never expected that he'd end up giving up alcohol himself! After a brief flutter with moderation, Ben decided to take the plunge and go fully alcohol free in July 2020 after lockdown threw his initial plans out of the wind...
56m Jul 11, 2022
56m
S3 Ep66: Shaun Weiss: The Mighty Duck
In this episode we link up with Hollywood as actor Shaun Weiss joins us from Los Angeles! Shaun rose to fame in the 90s as a child actor when he had a starring role in The Mighty Ducks movies as Greg Goldberg, the team's tough but loveable goalkeeper. He'd acted before this but it was these movies that cemented his love for the profession, and he made friends for life who still play a big part...
53m Jul 04, 2022
53m
S3 Ep65: Charlie & Joey (Young & Sober): AF Holidays
On the last Monday of every month, Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free. In this episode, Charlie is dialling in from Spain as she's been away for a couple of weeks - and, of course, she's done it all alcohol-free! She talks about her experience in Morocco, where it's very...
43m Jun 27, 2022
43m
S3 Ep64: OTI Adventures: The Yorkshire Three Peaks Special
In this episode we chat to FOUR of our OTI Community members who took part in our Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge: Danny, Kerry, Neil and Sara! This challenge was the start of many more events to come from OTI, and it was a magical day of friendship, conversation and connection. Members came from all over the world to take part, with one member even travelling from BRISBANE to Yorkshire to mee...
58m Jun 20, 2022
58m
S3 Ep63: Ian Thurlbeck: Two Years AF
In this episode we catch up with Ian Thurlbeck, an OTI Community member who's now over two years alcohol free! The last time Ian was on the podcast he talked about his first year of sobriety, as we spoke to him on the day of his 365 days milestone - in this conversation we talk about how things continued to change for him since, and how his second year of sobriety has given him so much more th...
55m Jun 13, 2022
55m
S3 Ep62: Andy Garwood: Breaking The Habit
In this episode we chat to Andy Garwood, who's over 4 years alcohol free and someone who Shazza has known since the very start of her own AF journey! Andy was a daily drinker and gave up alcohol because he had some very strong reasons why - he wanted to be the best man he could be for his young children. One day he was showing them how to do burpees when he snapped his ankle - he was overweigh...
54m Jun 06, 2022
54m
S3 Ep61: Charlie & Joey (Young & Sober): Triggers and Tools
On the last Monday of every month, Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free. In this episode, Charlie and Joey talk about the triggers that could catch young people off guard when they decide to go sober, and some of the tools that have helped them in their sobriety. When you'...
59m May 30, 2022
59m
S3 Ep60: Jane Mackenzie: The Mother
In this episode we chat to Jane Mackenzie, a mother who lost her daughter Amy to alcohol. Amy struggled with alcohol dependence for her whole adult life, and  watching her going slowly downhill - and being powerless to stop the progression of this dreadful disease - was a very painful experience for Jane, their family and Amy's friends. Jane talks to us about Share Shrewsbury (https://sharesh...
47m May 23, 2022
47m
S3 Ep58: Rosie: Alcohol, Drugs & Eating Disorders
In this episode we chat to Rosie, a wonderful young woman from the UK who now lives in New Zealand happily drug and alcohol free! We're Sharon and Ben, two normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just h...
47m May 09, 2022
47m
S3 Ep57: Niamh O'Sheehan: Walking Your Way Sober
In this episode we chat to Niamh O'Sheehan who says she walked her way sober! We're Sharon and Ben, two normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be! Niamh gave ...
59m May 02, 2022
59m
S3 Ep55: Charlie & Joey (Young & Sober): Alcohol and Mental Health
On the last Monday of every month, Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free. In this episode, Charlie and Joey talk about alcohol and its affect on mental health. This is an area that they're both incredibly passionate about, and one that they believe isn't discussed enough in ...
58m Apr 25, 2022
58m
S3 Ep56: Andy Delderfield: The Ice Runner
In this episode we chat to Andy Delderfield, who's recently completed an ice ultra marathon in Sweden! We're Sharon and Ben, two normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without b...
54m Apr 18, 2022
54m
S3 Ep54: Miles Bingham: The Sober Trekker
In this episode we chat to Miles Bingham, aka The Sober Trekker! We're Sharon and Ben, two normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be! Miles gave up alcohol ov...
54m Apr 11, 2022
54m
S3 Ep53: Freddie Bennett: The Emotional Goodbye
Just over two years ago, we gathered around a kitchen table in Liverpool to talk about an idea for a new alcohol-free podcast. It would be called Over The Influence, and it had one mission: to sing about the joys of sobriety, in the hope that it would encourage people to give alcohol-free life a try. The world was changing and people were giving up alcohol for all sorts of reasons: to enjoy be...
59m Apr 04, 2022
59m
S3 Ep52: Charlie & Joey (Young & Sober): Sober Society
On the last Monday of every month for the rest of this year, Over The Influence is being taken over by Joey Duckworth and Charlie Martina, two people in their 20s who've decided to ditch booze and live life alcohol-free. In this episode, Charlie and Joey talk about a survey they did at Sober Soc, the sober society at Liverpool University that Charlie set up, to ask the other members their reas...
51m Mar 28, 2022
51m
S3 Ep51: Harrison Ward: The Fell Foodie
In this episode we chat to Harrison Ward, aka The Fell Foodie! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be! Harrison gave u...
55m Mar 21, 2022
55m
S3 Ep50: Ann Gash: The Spartan
In this episode we chat to Ann Gash, a woman from Anglesey who has found the confidence to change her life in incredible ways. We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebratin...
48m Mar 14, 2022
48m
S3 Ep49: Russell Hicks: The Comedian
In this episode we chat to stand up comedian, Russell Hicks, who's been sober for 13 years! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without b...
50m Mar 07, 2022
50m
S3 Ep48: Charlie & Joey (Young & Sober): The Drinking Environment for 20-Somethings
This is the first episode of our new takeover series, where Charlie Martina and Joey Duckworth tell us what it's like to be young and sober in modern society. Both Charlie and Joey decided to ditch booze in their early 20s, and in this episode they talk about what the drinking environment is like for young people today... Do they face the same pressures to drink that shaped so many older drin...
45m Feb 28, 2022
45m
S3 Ep47: Annie Grace: This Naked Mind
In this episode we chat to the fabulous Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be!...
50m Feb 21, 2022
50m
S3 Ep46: Susan McGarry: The Believer
In this episode we chat to Susan McGarry, one of our fabulous OTI Community members! Susan has completely transformed her life in the last couple of years... She's been on a weight loss journey, she's packed in the cigarettes, and of course, she's removed alcohol from her life too. We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would chan...
47m Feb 14, 2022
47m
S3 Ep45: Charlie Martina & Joey Duckworth: Young & Sober
Welcome to the OTI Young & Sober Takeover! This episode is the start of something new for us... You will have heard from Charlie Martina before as she's appeared on a couple of episodes of Over The Influence, but this is the first time you're meeting the fabulous Joey Duckworth! We say the first time because for the rest of this year, Charlie and Joey will be taking over Over The Influence ev...
48m Feb 07, 2022
48m
S3 Ep44: Sarah Hepola: Blackout
In this episode we chat to Sarah Hepola, the author of a book that helped all three of us in the early days of our sobriety, Blackout: Remembering The Things I Drank To Forget. We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who ar...
53m Jan 31, 2022
53m
S3 Ep43: Sammy Hall: Sober Circle
In this episode we chat to Sammy Hall, the wonderful founder of Sober Circle! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be! ...
51m Jan 24, 2022
51m
S3 Ep42: Chris Anthony: The Sober Exec
In this episode we chat to Chris Anthony, otherwise known as The Sober Exec! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be! C...
53m Jan 17, 2022
53m
S3 Ep41: The First Episode of 2022
This is our first episode of 2022, and we're absolutely delighted to be back! We cannot wait to get chatting to our fabulous list of guests for this year - but before we do, we had a question from Jodie on Instagram on the 1st January who found Over The Influence because of our Dry January Special episode. She asked us which guest pod she should go back and listen to first, if we could just p...
52m Jan 10, 2022
52m
S3 Ep40: The OTI Dry January Special 2022
This is our Dry January Special 2022, and we were delighted to be joined by Dr Richard Piper, the CEO of Alcohol Change UK, and OTI Community Member Danielle Cooper, who used Dry January as a way to kickstart her own alcohol-free journey. We talk about what Dry January is, why you should give it a go if you're sober curious, and what affect doing Dry January can have on your overall drinking h...
49m Dec 27, 2021
49m
S3 Ep39: The OTI Christmas Special 2021
This episode is a special one... We've been so lucky to talk to some incredible people this year on Over The Influence, and because it's Christmas we asked some of our favourite guests to send us a voice note with their top tips for enjoying an alcohol-free Christmas. Because that really is so important when it comes to an AF Christmas... It's not about surviving it, it's about enjoying every ...
27m Dec 24, 2021
27m
S3 Ep38: Charlie Martina: Sober Society
In this episode we chat to Charlie Martina, the sober student who's only the second person to have a second Over The Influence episode! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by c...
49m Dec 20, 2021
49m
S3 Ep37: Shaena Jasmat: An Indian Female Shouting Loudly About Sobriety
In this episode we chat to Shaena Jasmat (Shaena Kasey Jay on socials), an empowerment coach and Bee Sober ambassador who said in her email to us that she's the only Indian female that she's come across who's shouting loudly about alcohol addiction. We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but...
48m Dec 13, 2021
48m
S3 Ep36: A Moment of Reflection
In this episode we go back to where it all started... Sharon and Freddie have a moment to reflect on how far they've come as individuals when it comes to their own alcohol free journeys, but also about how far Over The Influence has come... All thanks to you, our wonderful listeners. Of course, with Christmas not too far away now, they also talk about their experiences of booze-free Christmas'...
45m Dec 06, 2021
45m
S3 Ep35: Adam Smith: The Bar Manager Turned Life Coach
In this episode we chat to Adam Smith from Yorkshire, a former bar manager who hit rock bottom and decided to change his life, and is now a successful life coach. We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own...
54m Nov 29, 2021
54m
S3 Ep34: Matt Pink: Better Life Guy
In this episode we chat to Matt Pink, otherwise known as Better Life Guy! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be! Matt...
51m Nov 22, 2021
51m
S3 Ep33: Jenny Downs: The Community Member
In this episode we chat to one of our fabulous OTI Community members, Jenny Downs! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can ...
48m Nov 15, 2021
48m
S3 Ep32: Person Irresponsible: Alcoholics Anonymous
In this episode we chat to the wonderful (and anonymous) Person Irresponsible! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be! ...
58m Nov 08, 2021
58m
S3 Ep31: Stuart Cook: Sober and F-ing Enlightened!
In this episode we chat to the fabulous Stuart Cook who runs the Instagram page, Sober and Fucking Enlightened! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wond...
1hr Nov 01, 2021
1hr
S3 Ep30: Melody Woods: Merlot Free
In this episode we chat to the lovely Melody Woods, known within the sober community as Merlot Free Melody! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderfu...
52m Oct 25, 2021
52m
S3 Ep29: Irene Wignall: The Detective
In this episode we chat to Irene Wignall, who's a detective by day and an author by night! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without bo...
48m Oct 18, 2021
48m
S3 Ep28: Dean McCullough: The Radio 1 DJ
In this episode we chat to Dean McCullough, the sober superstar who's just landed his dream job on BBC Radio 1! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wond...
52m Oct 11, 2021
52m
S3 Ep27: Sober Dave: Solo Drinker to Sober Superstar!
In this episode we chat to David Wilson, who's known to thousands of people on social media as Sober Dave! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful...
55m Oct 04, 2021
55m
S3 Ep26: The Sober October Special 2021
This episode is a little different to normal, as it's our Sober October Special! We're Sharon, Freddie and Ben, three normal people who decided to give up alcohol to see how our lives would change. We're not medical experts but we are expert ex-drinkers, and our podcast brings people together who are on their own alcohol-free journeys by celebrating just how wonderful life without booze can be...
39m Oct 01, 2021
39m