Is It Time to Get a Bit Woo Woo?Is It Time to Get a Bit Woo Woo?
Sober Awkward
Meditation, Spirituality, The Higher Power and, well, Clams. (Don't ask!)
48:31•1 Nov 2026
Is Sobriety Making You a Little Bit Woo-Woo?
Episode Overview
- Removing alcohol creates space to question who you are and what actually matters to you.
- Spirituality in recovery can be personal and practical, through small rituals like walks, baths or creative hobbies.
- AA’s idea of a higher power doesn’t have to be religious; a supportive group itself can feel powerful.
- Setting boundaries in sobriety can strain friendships but also protects mental health and self-respect.
- You don’t need all the answers; staying curious and trying different practices can help you build a calmer sober life.
“The best thing about sobriety is that we get our feelings back. The worst thing about sobriety is that we get our feelings back.”
What makes a recovery story truly inspiring? In this chatty, slightly cheeky episode of Sober Awkward, Victoria Vanstone and Ulrika Jonsson talk about sobriety, spirituality and whether you really have to get a bit "woo-woo" once the wine stops flowing. The conversation starts with real life chaos – injured kids, a poorly dog, menopausal mood swings and friendship dramas made trickier by new sober boundaries.
From there, they move into how alcohol once acted as an instant escape from big, uncomfortable feelings, and how removing it leaves a lot of space to ask, "Who am I without booze?" Spirituality comes up as one possible answer, but not in a robe-and-chanting, converted-barn sort of way. Ulrika shares how sobriety brought a gradual "spiritual awakening" and a sense of a higher power that helps her feel less alone and less responsible for controlling everything.
Vic, on the other hand, admits she’s deeply suspicious of cults, gurus and anyone in too much linen, yet still longs for inner peace and a quieter life after years of chaotic partying. They chat frankly about AA’s language around God and higher power, why it can scare people off, and how a recovery group itself can feel like a kind of higher power.
Both agree you don’t need strict religion to feel connected; it might simply be cold-water swims, a boiling hot bath, pottery classes, a quiet walk, or sitting in silence with a cup of tea. With plenty of humour (including misplacing crystals on clackers), they keep things grounded and relatable, especially for anyone sober-curious who’s wary of spiritual clichés but still craving something deeper than Friday night Sauvignon Blanc.
It’s an honest, funny look at how you might start building a calmer, more meaningful life in recovery – one small ritual at a time. So, is it your turn to get just a little bit woo-woo?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.