Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

E336: Why You Feel Like You Need Alcohol to Relax (Alcohol and Stress)

I know it feels like alcohol is required to relax. I felt that way too, but it's not. Turning off your brain at the end of the day is not the same thing as relaxing. In t

Oct 9
25 min

How the Sober Brain Breaks Down Alcohol Associations (But They’ll Build Back Up if You Drink Again- A Replay)

We believe alcohol is required for vacations, unwinding, dealing with stress, celebrating, and socializing. We have built up powerful associations in our brains to reinfo

Oct 2
30 min

How the Sober Brain Breaks Down Alcohol Associations (But They’ll Build Back Up if You Drink Again- A Replay)

We believe alcohol is required for vacations, unwinding, dealing with stress, celebrating, and socializing. We have built up powerful associations in our brains to reinfo

Oct 2
33 min

E335: Convincing Yourself You Can Drink Again: 2 Reasons This Happens

Many of us, myself included, get stuck in a cycle where we keep convincing ourselves we can drink again and then we’re shocked when it doesn’t go well. There are a couple

Sep 25
16 min

E335: Convincing Yourself You Can Drink Again: 2 Reasons This Happens

Many of us, myself included, get stuck in a cycle where we keep convincing ourselves we can drink again and then we’re shocked when it doesn’t go well. There are a couple

Sep 25
18 min

E334: Why We Resist Sobriety and What Acceptance Looks Like at Every Stage

There is a difference between knowing that you need to be sober and accepting that you need to be sober. Acceptance changes the question from “can I drink?” to “since dri

Sep 18
23 min

E334: Why We Resist Sobriety and What Acceptance Looks Like at Every Stage

There is a difference between knowing that you need to be sober and accepting that you need to be sober. Acceptance changes the question from “can I drink?” to “since dri

Sep 18
25 min

E333: Understanding the Problem Isn’t the Same as Changing It

There are a few stages that we go through on the path to truly acknowledging our drinking. One of the earlier ones is when drinking feels mysterious, so the “I drank and

Sep 11
12 min

E333: Understanding the Problem Isn’t the Same as Changing It

There are a few stages that we go through on the path to truly acknowledging our drinking. One of the earlier ones is when drinking feels mysterious, so the “I drank and

Sep 11
13 min

High Dopamine, Low Effort Behaviors and Making Sobriety Feel Less Hard (Replay)

Your brain is wired for quick hits of dopamine, or high-reward, low-effort habits that feel good in the moment but sabotage your long-term goals. Over time, this conditio

Sep 4
25 min

High Dopamine, Low Effort Behaviors and Making Sobriety Feel Less Hard (Replay)

Your brain is wired for quick hits of dopamine, or high-reward, low-effort habits that feel good in the moment but sabotage your long-term goals. Over time, this conditio

Sep 4
27 min

E332: “Am I Bad Enough?”

When you're thinking about your relationship with alcohol you may stay stuck in, "am I bad enough?" for years before taking the next step. This episode is a way to think

Aug 28
10 min

E332: “Am I Bad Enough?”

When you're thinking about your relationship with alcohol you may stay stuck in, "am I bad enough?" for years before taking the next step. This episode is a way to think

Aug 28
12 min

E331: Wanting to Quit Isn’t the Same as Being Willing to Quit

There’s a difference between wanting the pain to stop and being willing to change the pattern, between wanting the benefits of sobriety and being willing to accept what s

Aug 21
16 min

E331: Wanting to Quit Isn’t the Same as Being Willing to Quit

There’s a difference between wanting the pain to stop and being willing to change the pattern, between wanting the benefits of sobriety and being willing to accept what s

Aug 21
18 min

E330: How to Stop Dabbling and Start Doing the Work

This is where I think people misunderstand what “doing the work” actually means. Doing the work is not just listening to sobriety content, understanding the science, or l

Aug 14
15 min

E330: How to Stop Dabbling and Start Doing the Work

This is where I think people misunderstand what “doing the work” actually means. Doing the work is not just listening to sobriety content, understanding the science, or l

Aug 14
16 min

How Many Attempts Does it Take to Quit Drinking for Good (Replay)

I'm working hard on the last part of the dabbling series, but it's delayed by 1 week because I've been sick. Please enjoy this popular replay about how many times it take

Aug 7
27 min

How Many Attempts Does it Take to Quit Drinking for Good (Replay)

I'm working hard on the last part of the dabbling series, but it's delayed by 1 week because I've been sick. Please enjoy this popular replay about how many times it take

Aug 7
29 min

E329: What Dabbling Looked Like For Me

Story time. In the last episode, I talked about the difference between dabbling in sobriety and actually committing to it. In the next episode, I’m going to talk more abo

Jul 31
11 min

Chart trend

Position in the Mental Health chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#90#179JulAugSepOct

#50

all-time peak

days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Sober Powered: The Neuroscience of Being Sober ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 9, 2026).

#114 ▼ 7 Mental Health US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I’ve listened to a lot of sober podcasts, and this has become my new favorite. Practical information and a very relatable story. Thank you for your effort in putting this out there and all the content!

Max4fitness77 · May 2025

I cannot thank you enough for this podcast. I am only on day 20 of my alcohol free life after a solid 10 years (at least) of daily drinking 10 units or more per day. My journey began with awful anxiety and depression that was more like terror and dread. I began to understand that alcohol was making it worse. I found this podcast and have been binge listening since my first few days. It has been so helpful in understanding what is going on during my transition to sobriety. Again - thank you.

Stacy-1967 · May 2025

I started listening to Gillian several years ago when I was toying with the idea of quitting drinking. At first I thought what does this young woman with the sweet, cartoon voice know? She knows A Lot! And what she doesn’t know she researches and finds out. After decades of drinking I finally stopped drinking over a year ago, and my desire has dramatically diminished. There are many days I don’t even think about drinking. It is so wonderful to be fully present in my life. I still am a faithful listener and if I had a tough day I may even listen to Gillian as I fall asleep. I feel like she is a calming presence, and a secret friend who wants me to live my best life.

Sciencegranny · Apr 2025

Gill’s explanations about the science of alcoholism and sobriety opened my world up to information I wish I had as a teenager. Her straightforward, fact based episodes are a must listen for people who are struggling with alcohol and want to get sober and stay sober. Create new pathways, increase dopamine naturally and learn that life is worth living fully. Start here, join the community and change your world. We can do it!

Conchyjane · Apr 2025

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.