EPISODE · Apr 19, 2026 · 1H 52M
I Quit Drinking With Zero Support, No Apps, No Podcasts — And Nobody Even Noticed for Two Weeks
from After Hours with Jimmy Thistle
Episode 69 - Emma NewmanIn this deeply honest episode, Jimmy sits down with Emma Newman, a 10-year sobriety veteran who got sober in 2015 — before sober coaching existed, before quit-lit flooded the shelves, before Instagram accounts made recovery feel possible. Emma’s story is one of the most relatable on the podcast precisely because there was no dramatic rock bottom. No intervention. No ultimatum. Just a quiet, growing certainty that alcohol wasn’t serving her anymore.Emma quit drinking over ten years ago, long before sobriety became a trend or a wellness choice. Back then, choosing not to drink often raised eyebrows, and the only visible routes were AA or rehab. Emma chose neither, instead carving out her own path—without quit lit, podcasts, or a sober community to lean on.By day, she’s a mum to two teenagers (and two cats) and works for a disability charity. In her spare time, she’s become a passionate advocate for alcohol-free drinks, supporting the category from its earliest days. Today, Emma is a regular judge of alcohol-free categories and writes about non-alcoholic drinks, bringing both lived experience and a sharp critical palate to a category that’s come a long way since she started.You can find Emma on instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/emma_sobersonic?igsh=MXVhY2JraXdodWhzbw==And Emma’s linktree at:https://linktr.ee/emma_sobersonicLove Sober Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/love-sober-podcast/id1379018341The Outrun - Amy Liptrothttps://amzn.to/4wZI4JBWild - Cheryl Strayedhttps://amzn.to/3RTyLuyDry - Augusten Burroughshttps://amzn.to/3PU8T19Wintering - Katherine Mayhttps://amzn.to/4wOYPqKMy Instagram is:https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmyAnd you can find all my other links at:https://linktr.ee/jimmythistleBuy me a coffee…https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmytAlcohol Explained - William Porterhttps://a.co/d/0854fIb6This Naked Mind - Annie Gracehttps://a.co/d/0gy6mT9ZA Million Little Pieces - James Freyhttps://a.co/d/0jdcIjGbDonate:https://motiv8.im/donate/https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/My Instagram is:https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmyAnd you can find all my other links at:https://linktr.ee/jimmythistleBuy me a coffee…https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmytAlcohol Explained - William Porterhttps://amzn.to/4uMmkyBThis Naked Mind - Annie Gracehttps://amzn.to/4eC6L6zA Million Little Pieces - James Freyhttps://amzn.to/44jOV3iDonate:https://motiv8.im/donate/https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
Episode 69 - Emma NewmanIn this deeply honest episode, Jimmy sits down with Emma Newman, a 10-year sobriety veteran who got sober in 2015 — before sober coaching existed, before quit-lit flooded the shelves, before Instagram accounts made recovery feel possible. Emma’s story is one of the most relatable on the podcast precisely because there was no dramatic rock bottom. No intervention. No ultimatum. Just a quiet, growing certainty that alcohol wasn’t serving her anymore.Emma quit drinking over ten years ago, long before sobriety became a trend or a wellness choice. Back then, choosing not to drink often raised eyebrows, and the only visible routes were AA or rehab. Emma chose neither, instead carving out her own path—without quit lit, podcasts, or a sober community to lean on.By day, she’s a mum to two teenagers (and two cats) and works for a disability charity. In her spare time, she’s become a passionate advocate for alcohol-free drinks, supporting the category from its earliest days. Today, Emma is a regular judge of alcohol-free categories and writes about non-alcoholic drinks, bringing both lived experience and a sharp critical palate to a category that’s come a long way since she started.You can find Emma on instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/emma_sobersonic?igsh=MXVhY2JraXdodWhzbw==And Emma’s linktree at:https://linktr.ee/emma_sobersonicLove Sober Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/love-sober-podcast/id1379018341The Outrun - Amy Liptrothttps://amzn.to/4wZI4JBWild - Cheryl Strayedhttps://amzn.to/3RTyLuyDry - Augusten Burroughshttps://amzn.to/3PU8T19Wintering - Katherine Mayhttps://amzn.to/4wOYPqKMy Instagram is:https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmyAnd you can find all my other links at:https://linktr.ee/jimmythistleBuy me a coffee…https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmytAlcohol Explained - William Porterhttps://a.co/d/0854fIb6This Naked Mind - Annie Gracehttps://a.co/d/0gy6mT9ZA Million Little Pieces - James Freyhttps://a.co/d/0jdcIjGbDonate:https://motiv8.im/donate/https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/My Instagram is:https://www.instagram.com/recovery_jimmyAnd you can find all my other links at:https://linktr.ee/jimmythistleBuy me a coffee…https://buymeacoffee.com/afterhourswithjimmytAlcohol Explained - William Porterhttps://amzn.to/4uMmkyBThis Naked Mind - Annie Gracehttps://amzn.to/4eC6L6zA Million Little Pieces - James Freyhttps://amzn.to/44jOV3iDonate:https://motiv8.im/donate/https://nacoa.org.uk/get-involved/donating/donate/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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I Quit Drinking With Zero Support, No Apps, No Podcasts — And Nobody Even Noticed for Two Weeks
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