Her Business Journey Ahammed

Is alcohol confidence, connection, and a doorway back to yourself, or is it a liquid barrier that keeps you further away?
In this episode, Vic is joined by Australian broadcaster and former Triple J presenter Mel Bampton. Now 15 years sober, Mel has come full circle back to radio after spending years rebuilding her life around yoga, surfing and sobriety. Together, they explore one powerful question: how do we make our way back after losing ourselves to alcohol?
Mel explains how alcohol can feel like a shortcut back to playfulness, imagination, and that light, giggly version of us we...

In this episode of Sober Awkward, Vic sits down with Recovery Jimmy from the After Hours podcast to ask a big question, does sobriety actually make you grow up?
They swap stories of peak immaturity, from Vic’s 25 year blur of zero self preservation, to Jimmy’s wine fuelled, one way escape to Majorca after watching Into the Wild. What felt rebellious and “rock and roll” at the time now looks a lot like avoidance, selfishness, and being emotionally frozen at the age they started drinking.
Together they unpack how booze can keep you stuck, convincing you that you’re w...

Awkward questions. Clumsy confessions. Zero judgement.
Welcome to The Share Shed, the corner of Sober Awkward where we fling open the doors, air out the embarrassing bits, and finally stop carrying the stories that have been rattling around in our heads for years.
These are your questions and confessions. The ones you’ve never said out loud. The nights you still cringe about in the shower. The moments that pop into your brain at 3am and make you want to crawl into the mattress. Traffic cones, family parties, one-night stands, run-ins with the police, bins, balconies, and th...

Giving up alcohol in her twenties felt impossible for VIc.
Back then, drinking wasn’t just normal, it was the entire social structure. Nights out, friendships, dating, coping with stress, it all seemed to revolve around booze. So when someone decides to step away from it early, without a dramatic rock bottom or life implosion, it raises an interesting question..... Is something changing?
In this episode, Vic sits down with Sean, 28 and one year sober, who realised early on that alcohol wasn’t actually adding much to his life.What started as very social drinking slowly crept into some...

Awkward questions. Clumsy confessions. Zero judgement.
Welcome to The Share Shed, the corner of Sober Awkward where we fling open the doors, air out the embarrassing bits, and finally stop carrying the stories that have been rattling around in our heads for years.
These are your questions and confessions. The ones you’ve never said out loud. The nights you still cringe about in the shower. The moments that pop into your brain at 3am and make you want to crawl into the mattress. Traffic cones, family parties, one-night stands, run-ins with the police, bins, balconies, and th...

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic is showing up having one of those weeks. You know the kind. Life is busy, emotions are bubbling, and she’s caught herself saying “Yeah, I’m fine” on autopilot, while secretly wanting to hide under a duvet and avoid everyone. Which, honestly, feels like the perfect moment to talk about… feelings.
Today, Vic unpacks why sobriety can suddenly turn the emotional volume right up. Years of numbing everything with alcohol means that when you stop drinking, you don’t just get clarity, you get everything. Old feelings, new feelings, confusing feelings, all turning up a...

Eight years sober… and this week something quietly shifted.
Vic realised the anxiety she feels around certain social situations isn’t because she can’t cope. It’s because she no longer wants to.
For years she believed being able to sit comfortably around drinking was a sober skill to master. She could handle it. She could manage the energy. She could leave early. But the low-level anxiety never really disappeared.
So what happens when you realise it’s not about capability, it’s about alignment?
Joined by Sober Dave from One for the Road, Vic unpacks this...

Welcome to the Share Shed — a judgement-free corner of Sober Awkward where we gently drag our most awkward drinking stories into the daylight and finally let them go.
This is the place for the questions you’ve never asked out loud and the moments you still remember at 3am when your brain decides to replay your greatest hits of humiliation. Family parties that went wildly off-piste. Traffic cones worn as hats. One night stands you wish had stayed one night. Messages sent. Bins vomited in. Questionable run-ins with the police. You know the ones.
Each week, listeners send in t...

Should you ask your partner to quit drinking just because you have? Or could that actually make things worse?
In this episode of Sober Awkward, Vic explores why telling the people you love to give up booze can backfire, and why quietly showing them what sobriety looks like is often far more powerful. From awkward dinner tables to partners who still drink, Vic talks honestly about support, resentment, boundaries, and why influence beats control every time.
Inspired by a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills binge on a long-haul flight (purely for research), Vic unpacks how normalised alcohol is...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

After 3 and a half magical and hilarious years, the time has finally come for Hame to step away from the podcast. In this incredibly blubbery, soppy, sad and reflective episode Vic and Hame look back at what they have learnt from their time together.They explore what they have learnt from the podcast and what they hope the listeners can learn too. Hame reveals his reasons for having made this decision (and not its not that him and Vic have had an argument or that he had a mad 20 pint blow-out and doesn't want to lie to you all!). Most...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

What happens when midlife hits… and you’re already sober?
In this brilliantly honest and often hilarious episode, Vic is flying solo (Hamish wisely sat this one out) to chat with author Dana Bowman, a woman who thought she had long-term sobriety nailed, until menopause, food, marriage, parenting, body image, and a global pandemic all piled in at once.
Dana’s story, told in her book Humble Pie, is about far more than sobriety. It’s about what happens when recovery collides with midlife. As menopause crept in, Dana found herself veering into binge eating and food addiction, struggli...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

Ever noticed how the moment you put down the wine glass, you suddenly find yourself at the bottom of a family-sized bag of Haribo? You aren't alone. In fact, for many of us, the "sugar monster" was waiting in the wings long before we poured our last drink.
In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa Kredler, a Sydney-based psychotherapist and specialist in ultra-processed food addiction. Vanessa brings a lived experience in recovering from both food and alcohol addiction.
We dive deep into why these two habits are so often "best friends" and how to navigate the "naughty f...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

Warning: This episode contains an alarming amount of chat about a mysterious stranger called Derek and more casual mentions of “minge” in the first four minutes than any of us could ever have anticipated. It is funny, honest, slightly feral… and absolutely not one for the school run. Best enjoyed with headphones on and children safely out of earshot.
So, you've just started your sober journey? Doing Dry January? Or quietly wondering what life might look like without booze? This episode is your brutally honest, slightly emotional roadmap through your first 30 days alcohol-free.
Vic and Hamish take you throug...

New Year, New Liver?
Feeling a bit "delicate" this morning? Maybe you’ve just woken up with a UDI (Unidentified Drinking Injury), a loaf of bread for a pillow, or you’re currently hiding under the duvet until the 3rd of January.
In our first episode of 2026, Hame and Vic are whispering a warm welcome to the "sober curious," the "done-with-hangovers," and everyone in between.
We’re stripping away the "alcoholic" labels and proving that you don’t need to hit rock bottom to decide that life is just... better without the booze.In this episode:The "Obscenity"...

In this gloriously unhinged episode, Vic and Hamish find themselves in that awkward festive no-man’s-land between Christmas and New Year – gravy-stained, confused about the day, and dangerously close to eating a whole tin of Quality Street in one sitting.
But fear not. Among the leftover potatoes and peri-menopausal meltdowns, your sober elves are here with a very handy toolkit to help you navigate New Year’s Eve without diving headfirst into a bucket of prosecco.
Yep, we’re diving deep into why your mindset matters more than the perfect mocktail, how to handle your Aunt Karen when she call...

🎄 Merry Christmas from Sober Awkward! 🎄
It’s that time of year again, the crackers are cracking, the mulled wine is flowing, and somewhere in the chaos, a sober legend (yes, you) is standing strong. We know how awkward, emotional, and just plain weird Christmas can be when you’re doing it booze-free, so we’ve brought back our annual Sober Awkward Christmas Poem to help keep you smiling, grounded, and booze free.
This is our little festive gift to you, a reminder that you are not alone, and that choosing sobriety (especially today) is one of the most powerful, li...

If the idea of a sober Christmas makes you break out in a festive sweat, clutch a mince pie for emotional support, and whisper “Lord, give me strength,” then this episode is your new best friend.
This week, Mrs Santa (Vic, with her saggy boob and questionable stuffing) and her long suffering festive sidekick Elf Hamish dive headfirst into the sparkly chaos of Christmas. First the fantasy version where everyone drinks kombucha and expresses gratitude, then the real version where Uncle Gary is drunk by 10am and someone cries because their new crocs are the wrong colour.
Together they...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

In today's episode, Hame sits down with the wonderful Clare Pooley. The globally celebrated author who's blog and subsequent book 'The Sober Diaries' has been been named as THE book that helped so many of our listeners get sober so it felt only right to invite her on!
This fascinating conversation ranges from how she labelled and overcame her 'wine witch' (and the surprising role that Game of Thrones played in it!), the 'Best Mum Cup' moment that would mark her final alcoholic drink, why she has never identified with the term 'alcoholic', how her sobriety prepared her for...

Welcome to the final edition of our Sober Stories!
After the overwhelming response to a recent writing competition during which we asked you to share your JOURNEYS to sobriety (the good, the bad and the ugly!), we felt compelled to take things a step further.
We asked, you wrote, and now we're sharing the incredible, hilarious, and heartwarming stories you sent us. Get ready to be inspired by your fellow listeners, one story at a time!
Happy Saturday, y’all.
Sober Awkward Tools and Links
Join Cuppa – our alcohol-free communityA kind, no-pressure space to connect with...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

In this week’s Sober Awkward, Vic and Hamish dive into one of the biggest, stickiest, most awkward questions in sobriety: Can I actually trust myself again?
Vic opens up about those final blurry days of drinking when she couldn’t even trust herself to say “no” to a jelly baby, let alone a vodka soda. Hamish admits he’s never trusted Vic with a map, a tech problem, or his childhood sticker collection — fair enough. But what happens when that mistrust is turned inward?
Together, they unpack how alcohol chips away at your self-belief, how broken promises and panic at...

Welcome to our new weekly shortened episodes - Sober Stories!
After the overwhelming response to a recent writing competition during which we asked you to share your JOURNEYS to sobriety (the good, the bad and the ugly!), we felt compelled to take things a step further.
We asked, you wrote, and now we're sharing the incredible, hilarious, and heartwarming stories you sent us. Get ready to be inspired by your fellow listeners, one story at a time!
Happy Saturday, y’all.
Sober Awkward Tools and Links
Join Cuppa – our alcohol-free communityA kind, no-pressure space to conn...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

So, you think you’re in control of your drinking. You’ve got rules. You don’t drink before midday. You smashed Dry July. You’re not as bad as your mate Dave. But deep down… is alcohol really calling the shots?
In this episode, Vic and Hamish rewind the clock to those sneaky early days when they both tried to prove they were totally in control of their drinking — spoiler alert: they weren’t. From imaginary dance careers to strategic night out planning, they share the lies we tell ourselves to keep drinking, and why it’s so damn hard to see...

Welcome to our new weekly shortened episodes - Sober Stories!
After the overwhelming response to a recent writing competition during which we asked you to share your JOURNEYS to sobriety (the good, the bad and the ugly!), we felt compelled to take things a step further.
We asked, you wrote, and now we're sharing the incredible, hilarious, and heartwarming stories you sent us. Get ready to be inspired by your fellow listeners, one story at a time!
Happy Saturday, y’all.
Sober Awkward Tools and Links
Join Cuppa – our alcohol-free communityA kind, no-pressure space to conn...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

This week, things get steamy… or rather, extremely awkward, as Vic and Hamish dive into the sweaty, slippery world of sex and sobriety. From brewer’s droop and boozy blunders to the awkward reality of sober intimacy, this episode explores how alcohol shaped our sex lives — and what happens when the booze is gone and the lights are on.
Vic shares how lager gave her false confidence and a free pass to the “downstairs disco,” while Hamish confesses his reliance on Dutch courage to even make a move. Together, they unpack the myths around alcohol and sex, laugh about some deepl...

Welcome to our new weekly shortened episodes - Sober Stories!
After the overwhelming response to a recent writing competition during which we asked you to share your JOURNEYS to sobriety (the good, the bad and the ugly!), we felt compelled to take things a step further.
We asked, you wrote, and now we're sharing the incredible, hilarious, and heartwarming stories you sent us. Get ready to be inspired by your fellow listeners, one story at a time!
Happy Saturday, y’all.
Sober Awkward Tools and Links
Join Cuppa – our alcohol-free communityA kind, no-pressure space to conn...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

This week on Sober Awkward, Vic finally tells Hamish everything about the jungle retreat, and no, it wasn’t a cult, no white robes, and absolutely no seduction attempts (apparently). Instead, fifteen strangers arrived in Thailand and fifteen new mates walked out, bonded by rainy boat trips, sweaty boxing classes, lots of yoga, a quiz night that got wildly out of hand, and a whole lot of belly laughs. Oh, and some people that really get it!
In this episode, Vic and Hamish explore why finding your sober people is such a game changer. When you quit drinking, you do...

Welcome to our new weekly shortened episodes - Sober Stories!
After the overwhelming response to a recent writing competition during which we asked you to share your JOURNEYS to sobriety (the good, the bad and the ugly!), we felt compelled to take things a step further.
We asked, you wrote, and now we're sharing the incredible, hilarious, and heartwarming stories you sent us. Get ready to be inspired by your fellow listeners, one story at a time!
Happy Saturday, y’all.
Sober Awkward Tools and Links
Join Cuppa – our alcohol-free communityA kind, no-pressure space to conn...

🎙️ Throwback Thursdays on Sober Awkward!
Every Thursday, we’re serving up a little slice of Sober Awkward history – a short, powerful clip from one of our most-loved past episodes.
Why? Because sometimes, the right words hit differently the second time around. Whether you’re new here or a long-time listener, these throwback moments are here to keep you company, remind you you’re not alone, and offer that little nudge of insight or encouragement just when you need it.
Think of it as a midweek check-in. Something bite-sized to walk with, laugh at, or quietly reflect on. And if the cl...

Jonathan Todd Schwartz was once the "diva whisperer," the highly trusted financial manager for Hollywood's biggest names, including Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and Alanis Morissette. He was living the high life while secretly battling a monstrous cocaine and gambling addiction.
Consumed by his habit, Jonathan began to embezzle millions from his celebrity clients, leading to his arrest and conviction. His world of fame and fortune crashed into a jail cell.
But the story doesn't end there. Now over nine years sober and working as a recovery advocate, Jonathan is on a messy, public journey for redemption. He is determined to prove he...

Welcome to our new weekly shortened episodes - Sober Stories!
After the overwhelming response to a recent writing competition during which we asked you to share your JOURNEYS to sobriety (the good, the bad and the ugly!), we felt compelled to take things a step further.
We asked, you wrote, and now we're sharing the incredible, hilarious, and heartwarming stories you sent us. Get ready to be inspired by your fellow listeners, one story at a time!
Happy Saturday, y’all.
Sober Awkward Tools and Links
Join Cuppa – our alcohol-free communityA kind, no-pressure space to conn...