061: Janet Gourand from World Without Wine061: Janet Gourand from World Without Wine
You're Sober! Now What?
Tamar Medford talks with Janet Gourand about her shift from high-functioning drinker to alcohol-free coach and community builder. They discuss grey-area drinking, failed moderation, and practical support for anyone wanting to change their relationship with alcohol.
40:56•9 Nov 2020
From “Almost Alcoholic” to Alcohol-Free: Janet Gourand’s Story of Change
Episode Overview
- Alcohol use sits on a spectrum, and many people sit in an "almost alcoholic" space long before obvious rock bottom.
- Trying and failing to moderate repeatedly is a strong sign that abstinence may be the safer and simpler option.
- Taking a structured break from alcohol, such as a 30‑ or 66‑day challenge, is a powerful way to test your level of dependence.
- Community, accountability and shared stories through groups, buddies and regular check-ins can make early sobriety far easier.
- Quitting drinking opens up time, clarity and the chance to build a new life with genuine purpose and natural highs.
“"Sobriety will give you everything that you thought alcohol would, you know, what you were looking for."”
What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This warm, honest chat between host Tamar Medford and guest Janet Gourand speaks directly to anyone who’s questioning their drinking, stuck in moderation hell, or quietly wondering, "Is this getting out of hand?" Janet, founder of World Without Wine and host of the Goodbye to Alcohol podcast, shares how her "slow-burn" addiction grew from sociable Jack Daniels and dinner-party wine to blackouts she couldn’t even spot from the outside.
Her turning point came after a holiday weekend where she functioned normally yet couldn’t remember an entire afternoon, prompting the chilling realisation that her brain – not just her body – was at risk. She talks through why AA didn’t feel like a fit for her, and how a simple one-day workshop full of professional, high-functioning drinkers became the spark for her own alcohol-free life.
Drawing on decades in training and development, Janet then built her own workshops and membership community to support people who want to moderate or quit, without labels or judgement. As she puts it, many sit on an "almost alcoholic" spectrum and need a safe place to test their dependence. You’ll hear about her Sober Spring 66‑day challenge, the WhatsApp support groups, Zoom "cafés", sober buddy system, and why taking a structured break is such a revealing experiment.
She and Tamar swap stories about setting rules, failing to stick to them, and realising that "people that can moderate, they just moderate" — they don’t need workshops to figure it out. This conversation suits anyone in recovery, grey‑area drinkers, and people who love someone who’s struggling.
It’s practical, funny in places, and anchored by the hopeful belief that, as Janet says, "Sobriety will give you everything that you thought alcohol would." Ready to test what’s really possible without the wine?
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