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Over The Influence: The Alcohol Free Podcast

Over The Influence: The Alcohol Free Podcast

By: Over The Influence
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 Welcome to Over the Influence, the podcast where sobriety isn't just a choice - it’s a celebration! Hosted by Sharon Hartley and Ben Anderson, both BBC professionals by day and passionate advocates for alcohol-free living by night, this is your go-to space for real, raw, and uplifting stories of what life looks like on the other side of alcohol.

Each episode shines a light on inspiring, often hard-hitting journeys to sobriety. From personal struggles to incredible triumphs, we bring you heartfelt conversations with guests from all walks of life - whether they're celebrities, experts, or everyday heroes. Their stories might trigger deep emotions, but they’ll also inspire hope, empowerment, and a renewed sense of what the human spirit can overcome.

Whether you're sober curious, walking your own path to sobriety, or simply looking for some inspiration, you're in the right place. Let’s talk openly about the highs, the lows, and everything in between - and most importantly, let's celebrate the joys of a vibrant, alcohol-free life together.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information shared is for general purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. If you are physically addicted to alcohol - or even think you might be - it's essential you seek qualified medical advice from your doctor or other medical professional. Stopping drinking suddenly can be very dangerous and in some cases fatal. You can find links to support services on our website here.


Over The Influence Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • S3 Ep219: Janine Connelly: Start Quitting, Start Living

    S3 Ep219: Janine Connelly: Start Quitting, Start Living
    Jun 9 2025
    This podcast contains references to eating disorders and health issues. This week we have the wonderful Janine Connelly joining us on the pod! Janine is one of our OTI Community members and we are delighted that she's joined us on the pod today. She shares with us how she knew she had to stop drinking after a health scare in which she knew that she simply couldn't carry on drinking. She has managed Type I Diabetes for most of her life and the strain that her condition was putting on her combined with the drinking was becoming too much for her body. It's safe to say that now she is not looking back and we're absolutely made up for her that quitting alcohol has had such a positive impression on her life. We want to thank Janine for coming on the podcast and sharing her story! --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti
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    44 mins
  • S3 Ep218: Elin Smith: What's Your Gut Telling You?

    S3 Ep218: Elin Smith: What's Your Gut Telling You?
    Jun 2 2025
    On this week's episode we're delighted to welcome Elin Smith onto the podcast! Elin is a fitness fanatic and PhD student in Norwich, specialising in researching gut science. She's come to alcohol free life very young (and yes Sharon goes full Auntie Shaz) after she felt like her relationship with alcohol was becoming unhealthy during lockdown. Her university experience was brought to an abrupt halt by the pandemic and while university stopped, she found it was difficult to stop the drinking that went along with it. She found our little podcast and one day thought, you know what, let's just pack it in. It was a delight having Elin on the pod and if you'd like to keep up with what she's up to, you can follow her on Instagram @elin.k.fitness --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • S3 Ep217: 6.5 Tips To Thrive Through the Bank Holiday Weekend

    S3 Ep217: 6.5 Tips To Thrive Through the Bank Holiday Weekend
    May 23 2025
    It's a bit of a different one this week... Ben and Shaz don't have a guest and instead will be giving you their top tips for staying strong and sober through the bank holiday weekend in the UK. If you're not in the UK, don't worry - these tips all still apply! --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti --- Get In Touch: Of course, you can always get in touch with us (publicly or privately) on our socials - @alcoholfreepod on Instagram, or search for "Over The Influence" on Facebook. We'd love to hear your story - please get in touch with us directly at otihq@overtheinfluence.co.uk or go to our website, www.overtheinfluence.co.uk --- The Premium Podcast: If you love OTI and you'd like to hear behind the curtain, subscribe to the OTI Premium Podcast now! --- Links: For links to alcohol-related support services, please visit our website. --- Disclaimer: All views expressed in this podcast are of the participants themselves, and not necessarily those of Over The Influence (OTI) Ltd. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this podcast are for general information only and any reliance on the information provided in this podcast is done at your own risk. We are not medical professionals but normal people giving their own experiences of removing alcohol from their lives, and as such this podcast should not be considered professional advice. If you are dependent on alcohol, or think you may be, we strongly recommend that you seek professional medical advice. --- Helpful Hashtags: We found hashtags and sober social media accounts really helpful in our early days alcohol free, as following them can help to reinforce that you are not alone! These are some of the hashtags we've followed: #alcoholfree #stopdrinking #healthandwellnessjourney #zeroalcohol #idontdrink #sobercurious #healthydrinking #alcoholfreelife #soberaf #alcoholfreeliving #sobermotivation #podcast #healthpodcast #noalcohol #nobooze #sober #sobercurious #soberlofe #soberliving #sobercommunity #afcommunity #soberwomen #sobermom #sobermomtribe #sobersisters #sobriety #soberuk #soberjourney #sobrietyrocks #overtheinfluence #oti
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    42 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
really relayed with what Maz was saying and feeling. Great episode I listened twice !

Great podcast!

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Shaz and Ben, along with all their wonderful guests bring a perfect balance of support, humour, education and acceptance.
It's like having a weekly catch up with good friends.
I have learnt so much about AF life, the effects of Alcohol and how to navigate being AF in a world of drinkers.
I have laughed, cried and learnt with every episode that they share.
Wherever you are on your 'journey', whether you're sober curious, all in AF or looking for information to help with a loved one please take time to listen to these amazing human beings and the brilliant Podcast that they release each week.
I promise you it's a life changer.
Becky x

Funny, Relatable, Educational & Life Changing

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