Little Addictions with Catherine Gray

Little Addictions with Catherine Gray

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This chat between Victoria Vanstone and Sunday Times bestselling author Catherine Gray brings that question right into focus, with a good dose of self-deprecating humour and honesty. Aimed at anyone curious about sobriety, feeling stuck in binge cycles, or wondering why their phone or Netflix habits feel a bit out of hand, the episode first zooms in on Catherine’s impact on Vic’s own journey.

Vic explains that reading *The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober* was the moment everything shifted: “I realised I wasn’t losing something and that I was gaining everything.” That realisation helped her claim the word “sober” proudly and stop seeing booze-free living as a punishment. From there, the conversation moves into Catherine’s new book *Little Addictions* and the everyday habits that sit just under the radar. Catherine cheerfully admits, “Oh, so many.

I mean, I’m riddled,” before listing tv binges, sugar, chewing gum and phone use. Vic matches her with coconut yoghurt runs, reality tv and late-night online browsing, then asks the question everyone secretly wonders: how do you tell the difference between a harmless treat and something that’s quietly running the show?

Catherine shares simple red flags like going out at odd hours to get your fix, spending beyond your means, feeling defensive, or needing a substance or habit to cope or function. She challenges the idea of an “addictive personality”, saying, “I prefer once a human, always a human, because just everyone is addicted to something,” and highlights how shame can fuel relapse in alcohol recovery if it isn’t handled with care.

You’ll hear candid stories of blackouts, arrests, suicidal thoughts, and the slow rebuild into 12 years of sobriety, alongside lighter bits about coconut yoghurt obsessions and watching M25 traffic. It’s honest, funny, and reassuring – especially if you’re wondering whether your “little” habits, or your drinking, might be something more. So, which of your own “little addictions” might be worth a closer look?