Episode 7: What Happens After You Quit Drinking? Mental Health, Personal Growth & Modern Masculinity with Ben Gibbs aka Sober Boozer

 In this episode of Too Sober For This, recovery advocate Shell Righini and comedian Iain Anderson are joined by sobriety advocate, beer expert, and Instagram's Sober Boozer, Ben Gibbs to discuss...  What actually changes when you quit drinking… and what doesn’t? From alcohol-free beer to sober Instagram, recovery has never been more visible. People are building communities, sharing journeys online, and redefining what life without alcohol looks like. But is sobriety really the solution to everything… or just the starting point? Shell, Iain and Ben explore the reality of getting sober in 2026. They talk about mental health, relationships, personal growth, masculinity, and the unexpected parts of recovery that no one really prepares you for. From building a life online to navigating real-world connection, this conversation goes far beyond just “not drinking.” They get into what sobriety gives you, what it takes away, and why putting down the drink doesn’t automatically make you a better person. This episode sits right in the tension between self-improvement and self-awareness, questioning what happens when the coping mechanism disappears and you’re left with… just yourself.  In this episode • Life after alcohol: what actually changes (and what doesn’t) • Ben Gibbs’ journey and building The Sober Boozer • Alcohol-free beer, sober culture, and social life without drinking • Relationships, breakups, and identity in sobriety • Money, addiction, and shifting from chaos to stability • Online sobriety vs real-life community • Masculinity, the manosphere, and modern male identity • Why sobriety doesn’t automatically fix your behaviour • Boundaries, choice, and learning how to leave when you want to  If you’ve ever wondered what life really looks like after quitting alcohol, this episode will give you the honest version… not the Instagram one. Expect sharp observations, uncomfortable truths, dark humour, and a few moments where you realise sobriety isn’t about becoming perfect… and that is ok! 👤 About our guest: Ben Gibbs Ben Gibbs, also known as The Sober Boozer, has been a beer commentator and sobriety advocate since quitting alcohol in 2022. He’s sampled over 1000 alcohol-free beers, worked with breweries across the UK, appeared on BBC radio, and became the first person in recovery to win a British Guild of Beer Writers award for his work. 👉 Follow Ben: Instagram: @ sober_boozers_club Monthly beer subscription box click here Connect With Us@toosoberforthispodcastShell Righini - @shell_righini  Iain Anderson - @iainanderson.comedyTraumedy Show - https://iainandersoncomedy.com/Listen to Shell’s podcast We Recover Loudly here on Spotify  This Podcast Is Brought to You By We Recover Loudly MerchBold recovery slogans and wearable reminders that recovery doesn’t have to be quiet.Shop here: www.werecoverloudly.com@werecoverloudlyMastered and edited by Unmuted Studios.  Podcast production, editing, and creative support.www.unmutedstudios.com