The Big Drink Rethink

How do you truly start over, and what does real reinvention look like? In this episode, Anna Donaghey talks with Andrew Drasen, author, speaker, and survivor about life beyond sobriety, diving into identity, purpose, and hope.
Andrew’s journey goes far beyond addiction, spanning imprisonment, loss, and the search for meaning. He shares his struggles with self-image, rebellion, and choices that led to incarceration, as well as the heartbreak of losing loved ones, including his fiancée Caroline.
Together, Anna and Andrew explore how we cling to unsustainable identities, and how radical acceptance, creative rebuilding, and writing his memoir A Vision of Hope became acts of healing. This conversation is a reminder that change is possible. Healing isn’t the end, it’s the beginning.
Here are the Highlights:
00:00 Rethinking drinking and identity
01:15 Andrew’s story: addiction, loss, and the reckoning
02:42 Childhood, self-image, and early substance use
04:04 Identity as “life of the party” and rule-breaking
07:58 The snowball effect: risky behaviour and its consequences
09:40 False bravado, ego, and self-worth
13:01 First arrest and inevitability of trouble
15:49 Escalating to heroin and survival mode
17:47 Turning points: a break in sentencing and glimpses of hope
20:00 Recovery, 12-step meetings, and writing
21:32 Grieving loss, healing through creativity
22:07 Losing Caroline, deep identity work, and transformation
33:29 Andrew’s recovery framework
38:28 If you’re afraid of change: the courage to try
40:00 Recovery as a beginning, not an end.
Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!
Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/
The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/
If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: 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: thebigdrinkrethink.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey
Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About Andew Drasen:
Andrew Drasen is the author of A Vision of Hope and the creator of a 90-day framework that helps people discover identity, clarify direction, and build purpose-driven lives.

His mission is to help people see not just who they are, but who they can become - transforming pain into growth and purpose.

Listeners can visit Andrew’s website at avisionofhopebook.com to download the free preview pack, preorder the book, or sign up for the newsletter. It’s the best place to access all of his resources and stay connected.

Connect with Andrew:
Website: https://www.avisionofhopebook.com/

Does our past define us? In this insightful episode, Anna Donaghey explores a quietly powerful truth: you are not fixed. You are not your history, your habits, or the coping mechanisms that once helped you survive.
She guides you into the transformative space between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming. Uncovering how old beliefs and identities, especially around drinking, can unconsciously shape your choices and keep you attached to outdated versions of yourself. With a thoughtful blend of philosophy, neuroscience, and her signature warmth and honesty, Anna invites you to question what you’ve been carrying forward and whether it still fits.
You’ll discover how identity is formed, why it can feel so solid and unchangeable, and how to gently step out of autopilot to choose again. Because no matter how long you’ve played a particular role, you are never required to keep playing it.
If you’re ready for more possibility, more self-trust, and a kinder, braver relationship with change, this episode is for you.
Here are the Highlights:
00:00 Welcome and the real power (and limits) of “that’s just who I am”
01:15 Why you are not your past
03:09 How roles keep us safe (and sometimes stuck)
04:05 We are in a state of constant change, even when we feel static
05:07 Modern neuroscience and why your brain is always rewiring
06:31 How cultures and families script our identities
07:25 Adaptation as survival when old strategies keep running
08:21 Unpicking whether you still need your old beliefs and habits
10:18 What’s coping, and what’s truly you?
11:08 The tragedy of forgetting we’ve already changed (and can do it again)
12:30 Small, sustainable reinvention versus. dramatic transformation
13:05 Freedom and responsibility, have agency over who you become.
Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!
Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/
The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/
If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: 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: thebigdrinkrethink.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey
Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

We’ve taught young people how to achieve but have we taught them how to feel, struggle, and grow? Host Anna Donaghey is joined by consultant Joanna Lilley, who works with young adults at the crossroads of high school, university, and early adulthood, to explore why so many high-achieving students feel anxious, overwhelmed, and unprepared for life.
Together, they discuss the emotional blind spots shaping a generation, from overprotection and crisis-driven support, to the relentless pursuit of perfection and the lure of numbing out through tech, alcohol, and quick fixes. You’ll also hear practical ideas for building genuine resilience, supporting emotional growth, and redefining success for both parents and teens.
Here are the Highlights:
00:00 Welcome back & why helping kids handle stress matters
02:08 Why record numbers of students are struggling
04:09 Tech, overstimulation & the accountability gap after leaving home
05:27 Why current university support often misses the mark
10:22 Are parents unintentionally “fixing” too much?
11:29 Why adversity and struggle are key to building grit and resilience
15:22 Coping, numbing, and the pull toward quick-fix behaviors
18:10 Alcohol, substances, and the hidden culture of self-medication
21:00 The emotional blind spots that make numbing so tempting
23:12 How parents and schools can nurture real emotional intelligence and self-awareness
29:02 Why Gen Z are the anxious generation
33:57 How to support your teen without being a human shield for difficulty
35:09 Letting go, empty nests, and finding your own path
45:54 Why recovery, reflection, and even a gap year matter more than ever
47:43 How intuition, creativity, and downtime build long-term resilience.
Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!
Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/
The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/
If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: 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: thebigdrinkrethink.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey
Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About Joanna Lilley:
Joanna Lilley runs LilleyConsulting and, since 2016, has been helping young adults (18+) find mental health, substance use, and wellness resources. Joanna dedicates herself to working solely with emerging adults who unravel in college or aren’t thriving in adulthood. She also hosts the "Success is Subjective" podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.
Connect with Joanna:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilleyConsultingLLC/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-lilley-ma-ncc-12546566/

What if making one intentional, alcohol-free day didn’t have to feel like a test of willpower or a white-knuckle challenge you had to survive? In this practical solo episode, your host Anna Donaghey shares a clear, step-by-step structure for what a supported, intentional day off drinking can look like in real life.
Inspired by a listener who found Dry January a “white-knuckle ride,” Anna explores why sustainable change isn’t about deprivation or strict rules, but about adding support, care, and intention into your day. She’ll walk you through gentle but powerful tools you can use: from a simple morning check-in and choosing your mantra, to micro-habits that help transition from work mode to rest mode without defaulting to a drink.
No matter if you’re struggling to string one alcohol-free day together or just want to experiment with drinking less, this toolkit breaks it down into doable, kind steps so you can approach the question of drinking with more choice and less self-judgment.
Here are the Highlights:
00:00 Welcome back and the listener question behind this episode
00:55 Why lasting change is rarely about willpower
01:39 “I struggle to put even one alcohol-free day together”
03:02 Sustainable change is about adding support, not just removing alcohol
04:07 What does one intentional alcohol-free day actually look like?
05:26 Starting with a gentle morning check-in (and why it matters)
07:27 Have a “coffee with yourself” and checking in on your needs
09:25 Choosing a mantra to anchor your day
15:29 Micro-rests and working with the day you really have
17:36 Hydration as an act of self-care, not just another box to tick
20:45 How being well-resourced softens evening cravings
21:08 Dealing with the “witching hour”
23:33 Finding new rituals to mark the threshold between work and rest
26:20 The importance of identity cues, not just discipline
27:31 Ending the day with a gentle reflection (not a journaling marathon)
30:30 One intentional day is always worth coming back to
33:30 How to get more support with the Thirsty For More Mindset Lab.
Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!
Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/
The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/
If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: 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: thebigdrinkrethink.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey
Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

What if the limits we feel around age, change, and possibility aren’t real but simply old, worn-out stories we’ve inherited? In this energising episode, Anna Donaghey is joined by Allison Davis, traditional naturopath and author of ‘Sixty is a Good Start: A Powerful Body, a Purposeful Life, and a Plan to Make it Happen’, to bust wide open the myth that it’s ever “too late” to rethink your life or your drinking.
Together, Anna and Allison explore the deep-seated cultural scripts that tell us when we should want less, slow down, or shrink our dreams. Allison shares her own journey: becoming a new mom at fifty, reclaiming her health in her mid-fifties, writing a book at sixty, and refusing to let a single decade define what’s possible. You’ll hear how small, sustainable routines, what Allison calls the “self-perpetuating circle of purpose” can help us create vibrant lives at any age.
Here are the Highlights:
00:00 Rethinking the script on age and alcohol
00:41 The “too late” myth and culturally inherited limitations
02:15 Allison’s story: parenting, fitness, writing, and starting new chapters
08:30 How the narratives about age take root and how to question them
13:02 Introducing the “circle of purpose”
15:02 Why real longevity is about energy, not just living longer
16:00 Learning to listen to your body (instead of just managing it)
19:13 Alcohol, numbing, and re-awakening to what you really need
25:00 The role of the inner critic
32:40 The power of “threshold moments”
34:02 Rethinking “world work”: purpose, connection, and creating a life worth living
39:06 Loneliness and the vital importance of connection as we age
42:08 Introducing the Sixty-Day Dare: baby steps toward a bigger, richer life
43:00 Why sustainable change is always made up of doable, micro-shifts
46:46 Simple places to begin: water, movement, and intentional choices
48:13 “Is this enough?” The question that can start everything over, at any age.
Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!
Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/
The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/
If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: 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: thebigdrinkrethink.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey
Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About Allison Davis:
Allison Davis is an author, Traditional Naturopath and mum of five, who has pursued entrepreneurial business in the world of natural health for the last fourteen years while raising her family.
With her new book, Sixty Is a Good Start: A Powerful Body, a Purposeful Life, and a Plan to Make it Happen, she advocates for reimagining life after sixty and inspires women to embrace aging as a time of opportunity, vitality, and purpose.

Connect with Allison:
All of Allison’s links can be found here – including a link to buy her book:
https://allisonmccunedavis.com/links