Tribe Sober - inspiring an alcohol free life!

• When your Partner Drinks... Couples Therapist Zach Brittle

  My guest this week is  couples therapist Zach Brittle who is based in Seattle  I was able to pick his brain about that very common question we hear from some of our members – How can I quit when my partner drinks?   In this episode:- Zach's drinking escalated during COVID lockdown—he felt depressed and family relationships were under strain. He reached that point that many of us get to – his “not this" moment as we call it in Tribe Sober He approached a sober friend, Dave, who became his sponsor and helped him to work the 12 steps He only attended a few in-person AA meetings but actually found a South African online meeting that became his home group – so he has a soft spot for us here in SA He quit alcohol quickly and without too much trouble, but deeper emotional recovery took much longer. Zach stressed the difference between quitting drinking and being sober. His marriage had involved heavy shared drinking and his wife had been his drinking buddy But after he got sober, his wife began to drink more and had her own recovery journey to tackle Their 15-year-old daughter also “spun out” as the family system recalibrated Family members are now all healthy and connected I loved Zach's analogy as a family being like a child mobile – hold one piece steady and the other pieces wobble – how true Zach had some great advice for partners struggling with a drinker who won’t change: Take care of yourself first — get grounded and stable. Build your “healthy place” and invite your partner into it. You can’t decide their behaviour, but you can decide what works for you. Early sobriety is fragile — ignore comments like “you’re boring.” Focus on your own survival. Zach's Top Benefits of Sobriety Feels like an adult for the first time in his life. Sleep transformed — falls asleep naturally, sleeps through, wakes refreshed. Clear mind & emotional stability — no hedging, hiding, or dodging. Better marriage — calmer, more intimate, more predictable. Massive financial savings — used to spend ~$12k/year on bar tabs. Advice for Anyone Struggling Ask yourself: “Am I ready?” If yes, do the work: find community, a sponsor, a meeting, a book, a mentor. The work isn’t quitting alcohol — it’s understanding yourself and building emotional sobriety. Zach’s Podcast & Work Hosts Marriage Therapy Radio — weekly episodes with real couples. Has published books and has a new one coming in 2027 on relational recovery. Works mostly in person in Seattle but does some online work. Zach Brittle is his website More Info   Tribe Sober subscription membership – you can join up HERE. To access our website, click HERE. If you would like a free copy of our “Annual Tracker” or our e-book 66 Days to Sobriety, please email [email protected]. If you would like to come to our Saturday afternoon Zoom Cafe as a guest and meet our community, just email [email protected]. to join our mailing list click HERE    Episode Sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Tribe Sober Membership Program.  If you want to change your relationship with alcohol then sign up today Read more about our program and subscribe HERE Help us to Spread the Word! We made this podcast so that we can reach more people who need our help.  Please subscribe and share. If you enjoyed the podcast, then please leave us a 5-star review on Apple podcasts. Take a screenshot of your review, and DM it to Tribe Sober’s Instagram page – see PS below for instructions. We’ll send you something special to say thank you! We release a podcast episode every Saturday morning. You can follow Tribe Sober on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram. You can join our private Facebook group HERE. PS: How to Leave a Rating/Review in Apple Podcasts (on an iOS Device) Open the Podcasts app. EASY. Choose “Search” from the bottom row of icons and enter the name of the show (e.g. Recover Like a Mother) into the search field. Select the show under Shows (not under Episodes). Scroll down past the first few episodes until you see Ratings & Reviews. Click Write a Review underneath the displayed reviews from other listeners. You’ll then have the option to rate the show on a 5-star scale and write a review (you can rate without writing too but it’s always good to read your experience).  

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• Navigating the Holidays Sober

  In this episode, Lynette shares a deeply personal story from her early sobriety and offers powerful insights on how to navigate the holiday season alcohol-free. From understanding your emotional triggers to anchoring into your Sage energy, Lynette guides you through practical and heart-centered ways to stay grounded, proud, and connected during a time that can feel overwhelming.   You’ll also hear the story of Anna, a woman who created her first joyful alcohol-free holiday through intention, structure, and emotional leadership — a journey that mirrors what’s possible for all of us.   Whether this is your first sober Christmas or your tenth, this episode will help you walk into the holiday season with clarity, confidence, and compassion for yourself.   🎄 Want more support? Join Lynette on 10 December at 5pm SA time for a gentle, practical masterclass on navigating the holidays alcohol-free. Email [email protected] or [email protected] for details.

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• Slender for Life with Dr Ginny

  My guest this week is a psychotherapist Dr Ginny who has had her own struggles with alcohol and food addiction. Dr Ginny had a long history of drinking - since college Like many of us she was “High-functioning” — working as a director for a non profit Drinking + emotional eating became her escape Hit crisis point at 55: inflammation, pre-diabetic, struggling to walk Realised she was heading toward chronic illness — and possibly a nursing home 🍷 Drinking & Denial Told herself it was “self-care” Rationalised with rules (“only weekends”, “never a bottle... then more”) Depended on wine to soothe stress, numb emotions Felt ashamed, trapped, out of alignment with her values Emotional crash cycle: regret → resolve → repeat “She would say every morning, ‘I won’t do it tonight,’ and by the end of the day I wanted it again.” 💡 Turning Point Came when she worked in a nursing-home and many patients her age Realised alcohol + ultra-processed food = metabolic decline Fear of losing mobility + independence Began exploring science-based nutrition and alcohol-free living Joined Annie Grace’s work early & became a coach 🥗 Healing Through Nutrition Quit drinking and ultra-processed foods together Focus on abundant, nutritious whole foods Massive improvement in: Inflammation Sleep Weight (lost 60 lbs naturally) Pre-diabetes reversed Mental clarity + emotional calm 📚 Her Program Slender for Good Science-based nutrition & mindset work Focus on adding nourishment, not restriction Works especially well for women in midlife & recovery Book: Slender for Good After 50 🌐 Where to Find Her Website: slenderforgood.com Works with clients worldwide via Zoom If Dr Ginny inspired you to avoid that metabolic decline she spoke of then why not buy her book “Slender for Good” and sign up for a Tribe Sober membership. On December 1st we open our Annual Fundraiser for Earthchild –  make a small donation to this very good cause and in exchange you’ll get a month of support. Just go to tribesober.com and click on the Earthchild Banner…  

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• Episode 6 : Your new chapter begins

  🦋 Episode 6 — Becoming the Butterfly In this final episode of the Butterfly Series, we close the loop on your transformation journey — from your Not This moment all the way to stepping into the new chapter of your life. This episode is all about decisions: How to make them, how to stop living in the “miserable maybe,” and how to choose your future self with clarity and power. In this episode: ✨ The final stage of metamorphosis — choosing to fly ✨ Decisions ahead of time (especially for the holiday season) ✨ What “decision debt” is and how it keeps you stuck ✨ A simple 2-step tool to evaluate any decision ✨ Why sobriety is one big decision supported by many small ones ✨ How to step into 2026 feeling empowered and intentional 🎧 A Key Reflection From This Episode: “Indecision is a life thief. Most people fear making the wrong choice so much that they make the worst choice of all — no choice.” You learn how to remove fear from the driver’s seat and choose from your future self, not your past self.   Special Invitations 🎄 10 December — Holiday Season Sober Support Call A live session to help you navigate triggers, social pressure, and emotional landmines during the holidays. For more information email [email protected] 🚀 Accelerate Your Sobriety — a Tribe Sober Program Start 2026 feeling clear, strong, and alcohol-free. Register here: https://www.tribesober.com/accelerate-2/ Work with Me For private coaching, PQ mentorship, or the Path to Purpose programs: 📩 [email protected]   Music Intro/Outro: “Remember” by Sutherland (used with permission)   🦋 Closing Note Thank you for walking the Butterfly Path with me. This may be the final episode — but it’s truly just your beginning. Freedom is your beautiful name.

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• Mastering Uncertainty: Learning to Fly When the Wind Changes

  Show Notes – Episode 5: Mastering Uncertainty — Learning to Fly When the Wind Changes Series: Becoming the Butterfly – A Tribe Sober Mini-Series Theme: Emotional Power, Uncertainty & Self-Leadership Music: “Remember” by Sutherland 🎵 🦋 Episode Summary In this pivotal episode of Becoming the Butterfly, Lynette guides listeners into one of the deepest truths of transformation: You cannot become the butterfly without learning to live with uncertainty. This conversation explores how uncertainty — not alcohol — is often the real challenge on the sobriety path. With wisdom drawn from Dr. Julia DiGangi’s emotional energy work, Lynette explains that uncertainty isn’t a situation to control… it’s an energetic relationship with yourself to transform. Through stories, lived experience, and profound insights, this episode teaches you how to stop collapsing into fear, overthinking, overworking, over-busyness, and over-drinking — and instead step into self-assurance, inner steadiness, and emotional power. ✨ Key Insights & Nuggets 1️⃣ The Real Challenge Isn’t Alcohol — It’s Uncertainty We don’t fear the event… we fear how we’ll cope. Uncertainty makes the nervous system panic: racing thoughts, tight chest, shallow breath. This drives the impulse to drink, overwork, over-please or retreat. 2️⃣ Uncertainty Lives in the Self — Not in the Situation You cannot engineer life into certainty. You can only strengthen the self who meets uncertainty. This is emotional leadership. 3️⃣ Why We Overthink, Overwork, Over-Give, Over-Drink All the “overs” come from a dysfunctional relationship with certainty. Your brain is trying to create safety… but the very behaviours you use to feel safe become the behaviours that hurt you. 4️⃣ The Pain Behind the Pain: Self-Abandonment The real suffering happens when you: say yes when you mean no drink to fit in silence your truth shrink your needs seek reassurance instead of information Self-abandonment is always painful. Self-return is always powerful. 5️⃣ Becoming the Hero of Your Own Story Shift from reassurance-seeker to information-seeker: Ask once. Ask to learn. Stand inside uncertainty without collapsing. This is self-trust. This is power. 6️⃣ The French Lesson Moment The shame of “not knowing” is often self-judgment, not external judgment. Saying “I don’t know” without collapsing is emotional mastery. 7️⃣ You Don’t Need Certainty — You Need You The butterfly doesn’t wait for perfect wind. It learns to fly with the wind.   📝 Journal Prompts Where does uncertainty show up most strongly for me? What “over” behaviours do I use to avoid it? How do I abandon myself when I feel unsure? What would it look like to be an information seeker? Where can I practice saying “I don’t know” with compassion?   🌿 Community Is Not for Reassurance — It’s for Wisdom Tribe Sober is a knowledge circle. A place to learn, share honestly, and rise together — especially inside Accelerate.   ⚡ Accelerate Your Sobriety — Free Webinar Invitation 2026 is around the corner. If you want to start the new year grounded, confident, and free… join us for our free webinar this Sunday where Lynette and Janet introduce the brand new 6-week Accelerate Program. 👉 Register here: https://tribesober.mykajabi.com/stop-drinking-webinar This program is for you if you want to: build sober momentum feel emotionally powerful create habits that hold rise beyond uncertainty reconnect with your Future Self 🎧 Credits Host: Lynette Le Roux Series: Becoming the Butterfly – Tribe Sober Podcast Music: “Remember” by Sutherland Connect: [email protected] | tribesober.com

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