The Radical Choice to be Single and Sober in 2026: Learnings from years of choosing self

In this episode of On Becoming, Jess reflects on her journey with alcohol and what it meant to step away from it. Five years on, she revisits the environments, identities, and emotions that shaped her relationship with drinking, from early experiences across Australia and the Czech Republic to the quiet turning point that led her to stop.Through personal journal excerpts and honest reflection, she explores the tension between belonging and self-respect, the cultural weight of alcohol, and the subtle ways it can both connect and disconnect us. This is not a story of extremes, but of awareness. Of noticing when something no longer serves you, and having the courage to choose differently.An invitation to reflect, to question, and to consider what it means to come home to yourself.Please leave a review and rate the show on the Spotify or Apple Podcast app if you enjoyed this episode. Connect on Instagram Cover art photography by Nergal YoukhanaDirected and produced by Jess