Reclaiming Life After LossReclaiming Life After Loss
A Quest for Well-Being
Host Valeria Teles talks with commercial fisherwoman and mental health advocate Colleen Clifford about grief, binge drinking, and the stories that shape our lives. Their conversation centres on following an inner north star, facing fear, and gently questioning whether our habits truly lead us towards the life we want.
50:33•24 Aug 2026
Life Beyond the Binge: Following Your Inner North Star After Loss
Episode Overview
- Question the story beneath your behaviour, such as beliefs about being unlovable or not enough.
- Ask yourself honestly, "How is this behaviour working for me?" and list its positives and negatives.
- Treat fear as a signpost toward growth rather than a barrier that keeps you stuck.
- Build simple spiritual or reflective practices—like quiet morning time or time in nature—to live more intentionally.
- Remember that depression and suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, and compassionate, non-judgemental support is vital.
“Your authentic life is waiting for you, and it is more beautiful than anything you have been settling for.”
What drives someone to seek a life beyond binge drinking and deep grief? This conversation between host Valeria Teles and guest Colleen Clifford zeroes in on the hidden stories and coping patterns that can quietly steer a life towards danger—or towards healing. You’ll hear Colleen share how her late husband’s alcohol-related suicide and her own 40-year binge drinking habit forced her to ask hard questions about the stories she believed.
She explains the “95/5 factor”: most drinking nights might seem fine, but that small percentage of wild-card moments can change everything. As she puts it, she once fell off a balcony and punctured a kidney, yet still told herself she didn’t have a problem. A big thread running through the chat is the idea that beneath any behaviour sits a story like “I’m not lovable” or “I’m not enough”.
Colleen talks about tracing her binge drinking back to one painful experience at 19 and how she wishes she could go back and tell that younger self she was lovable all along. Her book, *Life Beyond the Binge: A Commercial Fisherwoman’s Journey Home*, follows this journey of questioning those stories and following an inner "north star" instead.
Valeria and Colleen also talk candidly about depression, suicidal thinking, and the 988 helpline, stressing that crisis can happen to anyone and that compassion matters more than judgement. Colleen describes fear as a kind of compass: “fear has become a compass pointing toward growth rather than a wall protecting me from change,” and shares how spiritual practices, moments of quiet, and simple kindness help her live more intentionally.
If you’re wondering whether your own habits or self-talk are pulling you away from the life you truly want, this conversation might be a gentle nudge to ask, "How is this really working for me?"
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