Hosted by former party animals Victoria Vanstone and Hamish Adams-Cairns, Sober Awkward blends humour, honesty and practical advice for anyone exploring life without alcohol. We caught up with the duo to chat about their top tips for Dry July, Gen Z’s changing relationship with booze and the best beaches on the Sunshine Coast.

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Interview with Sober Awkward

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Acast: For those who haven’t yet heard the podcast, how would you describe Sober Awkward in a nutshell?

Hamish: A comedy podcast about sobriety by two regular oversharers.

Vic: It’s like eavesdropping on two mates talking about sobriety but also farts, shame, bad decisions, and the awkward messiness of being human. We say the things other people might be thinking but are too polite to say out loud. It’s not polished, it’s not preachy, it’s just honest, funny, and sometimes a bit too revealing.

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Acast: What inspired you to start the show – and did you ever imagine it would resonate with so many listeners?

Vic: I started it because I had no idea how to talk about sobriety without sounding like I had joined a cult or was trying to sell people a green juice cleanse. I wanted to talk about how weird it is navigating social life without booze and how confronting it is realising you’ve been drinking to avoid feeling anything at all. I hoped it might help someone feel less alone. I didn’t expect so many people would find it helpful or that I’d get messages saying things like “You made me snort laughing while walking my dog this morning!' – who knew that's what I needed to get sober!??

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Acast: Since going sober, what’s been the most surprising or significant change in your life?

Hamish: The amount of time I now have back in my life to fill with things that mean more to me!

Vic: I’m no longer waking up with anxiety the size of a fridge and wondering who I offended the night before. That’s been nice. Also, I have actual conversations with my kids now. I look them in the eye. I feel stuff. Which is equal parts wonderful and terrifying. Oh, and I have hobbies now, pottery, boxing, walking. Like, actual hobbies that don’t end in me face down in a kebab.

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Acast: Sobriety isn’t always seen as a laugh-a-minute topic – but your podcast brings a lot of humour and lightness to a pretty serious subject. Why was it important for you to bring humour into the conversation?

Vic: Because if we don’t laugh about it we’ll probably cry or curl up in a ball of shame and never come out. Humour is how I survived my drinking days and it’s how I survive my sober ones too. Sobriety is awkward. Early sobriety is painfully awkward. You’ve got to find the funny in it or you’ll get stuck in the serious and think you’re the only one messing it up. 

Hamish: Alcoholism is a serious topic - sobriety doesn't need to be. And we would rather educate through humour than through fear-mongering!

Vic: For Hamish and I, humour is our magic weapon. It means we can address the sticky bit of drinking and reach eras that maybe wouldn't normally tune it to a couple of boring party poopers droning on about 'wellness' – this means people reach out for professional help before things get too messy.

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Acast: It’s not long now until Dry July – an increasingly popular campaign raising funds for cancer support by encouraging people to go alcohol-free. What advice would you give to someone trying sobriety for the first time? Will people notice a difference in their health and wellbeing after one month of not drinking?

Hamish: Start planning now! Book some time with a therapist, clear the booze out of your house, encourage your partner/housemates to do it with you, buy some new trainers (your exercise is about to go through the roof) and listen to Sober Awkward (and the Huberman Lab podcast episode on alcohol!)

Vic: You’ll notice all sorts of weird and wonderful things. Like how clear your skin gets and how you suddenly care about flossing. You’ll also realise how much headspace booze was taking up. My advice? Don’t try and be perfect. It’s not about being a sober superhero. Just be curious. Take notes. Say no. Drink all the fancy fizzy drinks. And if someone pressures you to drink, remember they’re probably just worried you’ll start noticing how weird they get after three wines.

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Acast: Have you got any top tips for navigating social events where drinking is the norm?

Vic: Yes. Arrive late. Leave early. Hold a drink so people don’t offer you one. Plan your exit like a spy. Bring snacks. And if all else fails, pretend you’re on antibiotics and dramatically whisper the word “diarrhoea.” No one asks questions after that.

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Acast: Have you noticed a shift in how we view alcohol and binge drinking in recent years? Is it true that Gen Z are drinking less than previous generations?

Vic: Yes and thank goodness. Gen Z seem to be looking at us older millennials and saying “No thanks” to our emotional trauma hangovers and boozy brunch regrets. There’s definitely a shift. People are questioning the normalisation of alcohol, especially in parenting, wellness, and mental health spaces. There’s still work to do but it’s no longer weird to say “I don’t drink” without someone assuming you’ve just been released from rehab.

Hamish: I feel more people are giving up without reaching the point where they have a problem with it. We are the generation of talking, exercise, meditating, and cold plunges. I'm not sure getting off your face on booze fits into that anymore.

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Acast: There’s been such a boom in alcohol-free options – what are some of your favourite non-alcoholic drinks on the market right now?

Vic: I love anything that feels grown-up and doesn’t taste like kids’ cordial. A good non-alcoholic beer like Heaps Normal, a spicy margarita mocktail, or something with shrubs or botanicals. I don’t always want sweet, I want sass in a glass. Something that makes me feel like I’m celebrating even if I’m just folding laundry.

Hamish: Soda Smith make the greatest fizzy drinks. Heaps Normal make the best beer. Those are both facts!

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Acast: Finally, what’s coming up next for the Sober Awkward community? Are there any episodes, events or projects you’re especially excited about?

Hamish: We have some very exciting guests who are global superstars from the UK and Australia. Just you wait...

Vic: So much good stuff. We’re loving our sober meet-ups on the Sunshine Coast, we’ve got more live events coming up, and we’re working on new podcast episodes that dig even deeper into the wild world of life without booze. And we’re growing our online Cuppa community too, which has been magic. Honestly, it’s just amazing watching people come together and realise they’re not alone. That’s what keeps us going. We will be having a big alcohol-free party soon, when we reach the 6 million downloads target... just know it will involve scrabble and early bed times!

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Quick fire round

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Dream podcast guest?

Vic: Dawn French. I feel like she’d swear, cry and overshare with us perfectly.

Hamish: Chris Martin.

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One word to describe your co-host?

Vic: Unpredictable. Lanky. Posh – In the best and worst way.

Hamish: Dedicated.

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Best beach on the Sunshine Coast?

Vic: The one with no kids, no fishing shirt wearing dads, and no sand in my bum crack. So… none of them.

Hamish: Noosa.

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Guilty pleasure TV show?

Vic: Any reality TV for me. Booze infused drama is like a science experiment! (especially Below Deck)

Hamish: YouTube videos of Jessie J.

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Go-to takeaway order?

Vic: Thai. Anything with enough spice to blow my head off.

Hamish: Thai as well!

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Most used emoji?

Vic: I am too old for emojis. I think thumbs up is about as much as I can manage – I'm a writer so I prefer to use actual words!

Hamish: Crying with laughter face.

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Favourite mocktail?

Vic: Spicy virgin margarita. Because I still like reality TV in a glass. All drama!

Hamish: Seedlip and tonic.