89: Natural Health & Sobriety with Janey Lee Grace - Episode 8989: Natural Health & Sobriety with Janey Lee Grace - Episode 89
UK Health Radio Podcast
Janey Lee Grace talks with Anna Wolfe about sober dating and sex, her experience of alcohol use alongside a severe eating disorder, and the impact of trauma and shame. They discuss self-worth, communication, and practical ways to approach relationships and intimacy without alcohol.
41:45•14 May 2026
Natural Health, Sober Sex and Dating: Janey Lee Grace with Anna Wolfe
Episode Overview
- Community, honesty and sharing ‘everything’ can make sobriety feel possible when self-trust is low.
- Early trauma and adverse childhood experiences can heavily influence later addiction, but blame is less useful than taking present-day responsibility.
- Dating sober is easier when you treat it as an experiment: go on multiple dates, ‘open your funnel’ and focus on whether you actually like the other person.
- Clear communication about what you enjoy – and knowing your own body first – can make sober sex more connected and less performative.
- Being authentic, holding boundaries and building a life you enjoy for yourself reduces the urge to use partners to fix or complete you.
“I’ve actually never had sex sober. What a scary thing. How scary is that when you actually think about it?”
What secrets to maintaining sobriety can be uncovered when dating and sex are thrown into the mix? This episode of UK Health Radio’s Natural Health & Sobriety show brings together host Janey Lee Grace and guest Anna Wolfe, host of the brilliantly named podcast *How to Get Wet When You’re Dry*, for a no‑fluff chat about sober sex, dating, and self-worth.
Anna talks candidly about reaching rock bottom with alcohol and a severe eating disorder, describing years of cycling between binge drinking, binge eating, starvation and bulimia, and the moment life “just didn’t have colour anymore.” She shares how rehab, community and honesty helped her out of denial, and why hearing others’ messy stories – from emotional struggles to outrageous drunken mishaps – gave her hope that change was possible.
The conversation tackles early trauma, secrecy and shame, and how those experiences can feed addiction and low self-esteem. Janey brings in ideas around adverse childhood experiences and the link with later-life addiction, stressing that “it’s not your fault – but it can be your responsibility now.” Anna, meanwhile, talks about balancing accountability with compassion and why she identifies as an alcoholic, even as Janey shares a different view on labels.
Things get refreshingly real when they move to sober dating and sex. Anna jokes that many people suddenly realise, “I’ve actually never had sex sober,” and explains why intimacy can feel terrifying when you’re fully present in your body. They chat about dating apps, rejection fears, porn’s impact on expectations, and the power of clear communication in the bedroom.
Anna champions making dating fun again, going on more than one date before deciding, “opening your funnel” to people you’d usually dismiss, and asking, “Do I like them?” instead of obsessing over whether they like you. If you’ve ever wondered how to date, love and have sex without a drink in your hand, this conversation might be the nudge to start asking what *you* actually want – and what a kinder relationship with yourself could look like.
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.