Cat Cochrane on Creative Resistance in Recovery and the Gambling Industry’s Dark Arts

“Writing the last word of a poem, knowing it has a message that might reach someone one day... that is a bigger buzz than gambling.”In the first episode of 2026, I sit down with poet and advocate Cat Cochrane to discuss a journey that began in the smoke-filled bookies of Glasgow and led to a profound creative awakening in rehab. Cat opens up about the invisible line of addiction, the predatory targeting of the gambling industry, and how she used performance poetry to “rewire” her brain and reclaim her soul. This is a conversation about finding your tribe, speaking truth to power, and the radical independence of being a lone ninja in the creative arts.Cat’s story is a vivid map of the modern landscape of addiction—moving from the social atmosphere of physical betting shops to the 24/7 isolation of online slots. We dive into the perfect storm of the lockdown years and the pivotal moment Cat realized that her creativity had been the first casualty of her gambling. It was only through an intense recovery process in Birmingham that she found a future “not where it used to be” and committed to writing and publishing her first book within a single year.About Cat: Cat is a writer, journalist and performance poet from Glasgow. Dipping in and out of the west of Scotland patois, her storytelling delves into working class dreams and sensibilities.She has two published books of short stories and poems titled Sugartown and Sweet Tease.Cat is currently working on a new book and photography project titled Glasgow Hairdresser’s and Barber’s Tales and is producer and host of No Dice, an audio podcast series covering stories of female gambling addiction and journeys of recovery across Scotland, now currently available on Spotify.The Core Conversations* The Invisible Line: How a “restless” return to Glasgow turned into a decade-long battle with online gambling, and the specific moment in a Riverside casino where Cat decided to seek help.* The “Pink Pound” and Predatory Marketing: An eye-opening look at how the gambling industry targets women, the LGBT community, and even children through the “gamification” of video games and “loot boxes.”* Rewiring through Poetry: Cat explains how personifying gambling as a toxic relationship allowed her to set boundaries and why the adrenaline of a Tuesday night open-mic beats any high a roulette wheel could offer.* Radical Independence: Why Cat chooses to remain a “sole trader” and “lone wolf,” keeping her voice independent of institutional lines so she can speak the unvarnished truth about the industry.The Resistance Resource ListIf Cat’s story resonated with you, here is the index of resources and creative touchstones mentioned in the episode:* The Advocacy: Aila (the Gaelic-inspired support hub for women) and Gamblers Anonymous (GA).* The Listen: The No Dice Podcast—Cat’s 12-episode journey arc exploring the female experience of gambling harm.* The Verse: The work of Graham Fulton (the Paisley-based “optimist”) and the vibrant Glasgow performance poetry scene.The Future: Look out for Cat’s upcoming social documentation project, Glasgow Hairdressers and Barbers Tales, launching Summer 2026.Thanks for reading The Creative Resistance! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecreativeresistancepodcast.substack.com