Sober in the Country - with Shanna Whan AM

Sober in the Country - with Shanna Whan AM

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? This chat between Victoria "Vic" Vanstone and outback advocate Shanna Whan AM shines a light on booze culture far beyond the city limits – and why saying no matters more than ever. Aimed at anyone rethinking their drinking, especially those in rural or remote areas, the episode blends sharp humour with raw honesty.

Vic plays the sunburnt, sushi-loving coastal Brit, openly admitting her ignorance about country life, while Shanna explains what it means to live with drought, deadly snakes, financial stress and a 100km round trip just to get groceries. Against that backdrop, alcohol becomes more than a drink – it’s “how I numbed grief, pain, trauma, you name it.” Shanna talks about founding Sober in the Country, a grassroots charity pushing the simple message that it’s always “#OK2SAYNO to booze”.

Rather than lecturing drinkers, she urges people to “flip it on its head” and focus on being better mates: “If your mate can’t or doesn’t want to drink… just don’t be a jerk.” Her story about tough young station workers proudly wearing an OK2SAYNO cap shows how powerful that tiny bit of permission can be.

The episode also digs into gender and expectations – the pressure on country men to be stoic and sink rum, the invisibility of women on the land, and how isolation and lack of suitable services feed long-term, serious alcohol problems.

For anyone in a small town or on a property wondering if their drinking has gone too far, Shanna’s advice is simple: “Just start… be utterly relentless in your curiosity and the pursuit of your own wellness.” If you’ve ever felt like the odd one out for not drinking, this conversation might make you feel a lot less alone – and maybe a bit braver about saying no.

How much of your social life depends on alcohol, and what would happen if that changed?