In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Big Fellas, Darren and Mark sit down with Rachael Shephard, an author and coach helping women overcome alcohol dependency through her transformative Sober Mama program.

Rachael opens up about her own journey, from losing her mother and navigating the emotional aftermath, to confronting her reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism. Her story sheds light on the often-overlooked link between alcohol, anxiety, and depression, revealing how drinking can mask deeper emotional pain while making it worse over time.

The conversation goes beyond personal experience, exploring the science and psychology behind addiction, the power of community, and how profound improvements in mental and physical health can begin within days of quitting. Together, they challenge the social norms that normalise drinking and discuss how sobriety can be a path to empowerment, not deprivation.

This episode is a raw and inspiring look at transformation, healing, and what it truly means to take back control.

Key Takeaways:

• Alcohol acts as a depressant, often worsening anxiety and dependency cycles.
• Rachael’s 90-day Sober Mama program offers daily coaching and accountability.
• Withdrawal discomfort typically eases within days, leading to major mental health gains.
• Sobriety can quickly improve physical health, including liver regeneration.
• Emotional trauma often underpins alcohol dependency and must be addressed for recovery.
• Society’s normalisation of drinking — especially among women — needs to be challenged.

Join a community that supports healthier habits, accountability, and real change. Sign up for Man v Fat today with code BIGFELLAS and get £1 registration:

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Rachael works with women, but there are several free resources available on her website: https://sobermama.co.uk/. You can also find her book here: https://sobermama.co.uk/book/