Having Fun In Sobriety! With Courtney AndersenHaving Fun In Sobriety! With Courtney Andersen
I Love Being Sober
Host Tim Westbrook talks with sober coach Courtney Anderson about her journey from binge drinking and trauma to a joyful, alcohol-free life. They focus on fun in sobriety, sober sex, boundaries and creating supportive communities for women in recovery.
40:14•24 Jun 2021
Having Fun in Sobriety with Courtney Anderson
Episode Overview
- Rock bottom is different for everyone, and even less extreme moments can be enough to spark the decision to quit.
- Looking back to childhood joys and literally searching for new hobbies can help fill the time once spent drinking.
- Sober sex may feel uncomfortable at first, but facing it, doing the inner work and "ripping off the band-aid" can lead to deeper intimacy.
- Building self-worth through personal development, therapy and new boundaries is key to changing relationships and family dynamics.
- Supportive communities, especially women-only spaces like Sober Vibes, can provide safety and encouragement, including for those who relapse.
“I've always said this, that wherever you're struggling, just to know that you're worth it and you're worth the fight, because especially in early sobriety, it's a fight.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation between host Tim Westbrook and sober coach Courtney Anderson shows that life without alcohol can be anything but boring. Courtney shares how her “love affair with alcohol” began at 19, escalated into cocaine and crack, and led to countless rock bottoms – from hospital belts and jail cells to the night she threatened her boyfriend and lost her beloved cat, Fiona.
That missing cat became the turning point, and Courtney hasn’t had a drink since August 2012. As she puts it, "you are worth it, you're worth the fight," especially in early sobriety when every day can feel like a battle. You’ll hear honest talk about trauma, with Courtney stressing that "everybody has their own form of trauma" and that rock bottom looks different for everyone.
She describes her old party persona "Cornado" and how binge drinking ruled her weekends, then contrasts it with the quieter, meaningful moments in sobriety, like sitting on a bench with coffee and realising not everyone at night is "being animals". A big focus is fun: Courtney literally googled "hobbies" when she got sober and now encourages people to look back at childhood joys – baking, bike rides, sports – to rebuild a life that feels good.
She explains her Ultimate Guide to Sobriety, which covers topics like sober sex, boundaries, and finding new interests and communities that aren’t centred on alcohol. Courtney also talks about building self-worth, setting boundaries, breaking unhealthy family patterns, and creating the women-only Sober Vibes community so women can feel safe, supported and heard, including those who relapse.
If you’ve ever wondered how to laugh, love and have fun again without a drink in hand, this conversation might get you thinking: what could your sober "Cornado" nickname be replaced with instead?
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