Welcome to SEASON FOUR!!!!

This week I'm joined by the brilliant Alicia J. Rose, award-winning filmmaker, photographer, musician and creator of Menopunks - a movement challenging the silence, stigma and misinformation surrounding menopause.

Alicia has spent her career making noise, challenging expectations and telling stories that deserve to be heard. Now she's turning that energy towards menopause, bringing together women to share their experiences, question the status quo and demand better.

And this conversation goes much deeper than hot flushes.

We talk about the impact of perimenopause and menopause on our identity, mental health, relationships and quality of life. We get into hormones, HRT, ADHD, brain fog, sleep, and the frustrating lack of information and support so many women experience when they need it most. We also get into something that doesn't get talked about nearly enough: alcohol and self-medication.

Alicia opens up about her own relationship with drinking during menopause, how she used alcohol to cope with what was happening to her body and mind, and the changes she made along the way. We explore the connection between menopause, addiction and the ways women can find themselves struggling in midlife.

And fellas, don't scroll past this one.

Every man has women in his life - partners, mums, sisters, daughters, friends and colleagues. The more we understand about menopause, hormones and the impact they can have on women's physical and mental health, the better equipped we are to support the people around us. This conversation isn't just for women. It's for anyone who wants to understand them better.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Alicia's journey from the creative industries to founding Menopunks.
• Why menopause needs to be talked about openly, honestly and without shame.
• Perimenopause, menopause and the impact of changing hormones.
• HRT, self-advocacy and the struggle to access reliable information and support.
• ADHD, brain fog, sleep and mental health during menopause.
• Alcohol, self-medication and the relationship between menopause and addiction.
• The importance of community, sharing stories and making some bloody noise.

And we're very excited to say that We Recover Loudly is now the exclusive UK and European stockist of Menopunks merchandise, so you can get your hands on the collection without the international shipping fees. Check it out now on this LINK

Because getting older shouldn't mean getting quieter. If this conversation resonates with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe, leave a review and help us keep these conversations going.

Please note: This episode shares personal experiences and opinions. It is not medical advice. Always speak to a qualified healthcare professional about your individual circumstances.

About Menopunks

Menopunks is more than a podcast. It's a movement using creativity, community and a healthy dose of punk-rock rebellion to challenge the way society talks about menopause.

Find Alicia and Menopunks:
Menopunks website - https://www.menopunks.com/

Menopunks Instagram - @menopunks

SUPPORT THE PODCAST. WEAR THE MESSAGE.

Love what you're hearing? You can support We Recover Loudly by shopping our merch collection. From statement tees and socks to gifts with a little attitude, every purchase helps us keep the conversations going. Get 20% off your order with code POD20 at checkout.

Shop: www.werecoverloudly.com

Follow us on Instagram: @werecoverloudly

For speaking engagements, collaborations, support or just to say hello, email hello@werecoverloudly.com.

We recover loudly … to stop others dying quietly.

In the final episode of Season 3, Shell is joined by Dawn Comolly, better known as Sober Fish: writer, recovery advocate, and founder of one of the UK’s most vibrant online sobriety communities. Since giving up alcohol in 2016, Dawn has built a space that helps thousands of people swap hangovers and self-doubt for clarity, connection, and confidence always with her trademark honesty and humour.

Dawn shares her journey from teenage drinking and smoking, through years of exhaustion and toxic relationships, to the unexpected click moment that changed her life. Together, she and Shell explore:

• Why “one day at a time” really works in early sobriety
• How COVID shifted drinking habits and the long-term fallout still being felt today
• The hidden shame around alcohol, smoking, and sugar; and why freedom means answering to nothing
• Building self-respect, boundaries, and a life you don’t want to escape from
• Why authenticity, community, and even a healthy dose of swearing are essential in recovery

Dawn’s message is clear: sobriety isn’t dull or restrictive. It’s colourful, liberating, and full of possibility. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or questioning your relationship with drinking, this conversation is packed with truth, laughter, and practical wisdom from someone who’s been there and built something extraordinary from it.

CONNECT WITH DAWN :

@ soberfishie

@ the_unfuck_yourself_coach

https://www.soberfish.co.uk/

https://m.facebook.com/soberfishie

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email hello@werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this vibrant and vulnerable episode of We Recover Loudly, Shell is joined by Caroline Kelp — aka DJ Flourish: writer, speaker, and creator of the legendary Self-Love Rave. Known for helping women navigate midlife with more joy, connection, and empowerment, Caroline brings her trademark honesty and disco-ball energy to the mic.

Together, they explore:

• Growing up with pain and rejection, and how those early experiences shape identity
• The masks we wear — from teenage rebellion to corporate panels — and the courage it takes to drop them
• Social media, addiction, and why “discomfort” can either be a doorway to growth or a drain on our nervous systems
• The power of community, authenticity, and self-love practices in recovery
• How DJing in her forties led Caroline to discover joy, purpose, and a whole new way to connect

Caroline’s story is a reminder that recovery isn’t just about letting go; it’s about creating space for joy, courage, and connection.

Whether you’re in recovery, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or simply craving more authenticity in your life, this episode is a celebration of self-love, rebellion, and showing up as your fullest self.

CONNECT WITH CAROLINE

https://djflourish.co.uk/

@ ravewithdjflourish

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email hello@werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this candid and energising episode of We Recover Loudly, Shell is joined by Rosie Turner — accredited ADHD coach, yoga and pilates instructor, podcaster, and founder of ADHD Untangled. Rosie is on a mission to help the neurodivergent community transform what can feel like destabilising struggles into genuine strengths.

Rosie shares her journey from chaotic school days and extreme highs and lows, to finding clarity through movement, recovery, and her ADHD diagnosis. Together, they unpack the realities of living with ADHD, from perfectionism and rejection sensitivity to the often-overlooked connection between ADHD, eating disorders, and exercise.

In this episode, they explore:

• Growing up neurodivergent in a world that isn’t built for you
• How ADHD shows up differently in women (and why so many go undiagnosed)
• The impact of becoming “the label” you’re given at school
• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and learning to manage it
• Why movement can be life-changing for ADHD brains
• The rise in diagnoses and the myths and stigma still holding people back

Rosie also opens up about building ADHD Untangled — from one-to-one coaching to retreats, teen programs, and training wellness professionals to be ADHD-informed — and why representation and understanding in the wellness and sports industries are vital for real inclusion. Recorded earlier this year, the retreat Rosie mentions has now passed but she has a new one coming up in September where there are still places. Follow this link for more information -

https://alps.untangledco.com/bali-retreat357566-5742

Whether you’re neurodivergent, suspect you might be, or love someone who is, this conversation is packed with insight, relatability, and practical wisdom for navigating life with authenticity.

CONNECT WITH ROSIE:

@rosieadhduntangled

@ adhd_untangled

https://untangledco.com/

https://untangledco.com/coaching

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email hello@werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this special episode, Shell is joined by Ruth Tansey, team member at the Essex Recovery Foundation, one of the services she credits with her amazing recovery.

Ruth shares her extraordinary journey from a childhood marked by identity struggles and domestic violence, to years lost in addiction, abusive relationships, and life on the streets of London. Now over three years sober, she reflects on how recovery has not only transformed her own life, but given her the opportunity to support others on their path to healing.

Together, they explore:

• The human realities of homelessness and addiction
• How trauma shapes our coping mechanisms and how to break the cycle
• Why community is essential for lasting recovery
• What life in early sobriety is really like
• How purpose and connection replace chaos and isolation

Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about what a vibrant recovery community looks like in action, this episode is proof that transformation is possible.

https://www.essexrecoveryfoundation.org/

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email hello@werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this special episode, Shell is joined by Steve Lawson, community researcher at the Essex Recovery Foundation, ahead of the weekend’s Essex Recovery Festival - a celebration of connection, visibility, and healing through community.

Steve shares his powerful personal journey from military life and working fatherhood, to depression, addiction, and the moment he knew something had to change. Now two years sober, he reflects on how recovery transformed not just his life, but his relationships, identity and gave him purpose.

Together, they explore:

• How alcohol is normalised (and glamorised) in British culture
• The hidden link between mental health and substance use
• The myth of “functioning addiction” and the danger of waiting until it's too late
• Men’s mental health and why it’s still so hard to talk about
• Why recovery isn’t boring — it’s expansive, joyful and full of second chances

Steve also shares what to expect from this year’s Essex Recovery Festival, including breathwork, sound healing, axe throwing (!), live music, and the kind of connection that can change lives.

Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or still figuring it out this episode shows what real recovery looks like when it's rooted in community, not shame.

https://www.essexrecoveryfoundation.org/festival

https://www.essexrecoveryfoundation.org/

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email hello@werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this raw, riotous, and deeply moving episode of We Recover Loudly, Shell is joined by writer, comedian, and former homeless addict Iain Anderson, creator of the critically acclaimed one-man show Traumedy: A Guide to Being a Fabulous Homeless Addict.

Together, they explore what it means to survive addiction, homelessness, identity loss, shame and manage to turn it all into a sell-out comedy show.

From growing up in working-class Scotland to hitting rock bottom on the streets of Barcelona, Iain shares:

• The trauma of addiction (not just what causes it — but what it costs)
• His battle with identity in the queer community and beyond
• Why honesty in recovery is more powerful than perfection
• Learning to parent yourself, find your voice, and build real connection
• The grief of losing fake families — and the joy of building chosen ones
• How laughter can shrink shame and break the silence

If you’ve ever felt like you had to become someone else just to survive, or that sobriety meant giving up who you are then this conversation will challenge, validate, and inspire you.

CONNECT WITH IAIN :

@iainanderson.comedy

https://iainandersoncomedy.com/tour-dates/

https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/traumedy-a-guide-to-being-a-fabulous-homeless-addict

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email hello@werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com

In this honest, sharp, and emotionally rich episode of We Recover Loudly, host Shell is joined by Lauren McQuistin - author, vocal coach, retired opera singer and the voice behind the brilliant and brutally relatable @brutalrecovery.

They explore what recovery really looks like when you don’t hit rock bottom and how trauma, voice, and identity are woven into the healing process.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Getting sober at 25 without the “rock bottom” narrative
• Grieving the identities we build through alcohol, achievement, and performance
• How trauma lives in the body and the voice
• The power of voice work and somatic practices in recovery
• What it means to be “too much” in a world that wants you quiet

Lauren also gives a first glimpse into her upcoming book No Lost Causes Club, which redefines what recovery can look like, especially for those who’ve never seen themselves represented in it.

This conversation is full of wit, warmth, and the kind of honesty that lingers. If you've ever felt like you're not “bad enough” to ask for help, or too loud to be loved then this one is for you.

CONNECT WITH LAUREN :

@brutalrecovery

https://www.laurenmcquistin.com/
https://www.patreon.com/c/brutalrecovery
https://nolostcausesclub.substack.com/

For more information on We Recover Loudly and to reach out for speaking engagements or support email hello@werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly
www.werecoverloudly.com