In this episode of Too Sober For This, recovery advocate Shell Righini and comedian Iain Anderson are joined by sobriety advocate, beer expert, and Instagram's Sober Boozer, Ben Gibbs to discuss...

What actually changes when you quit drinking… and what doesn’t?

From alcohol-free beer to sober Instagram, recovery has never been more visible. People are building communities, sharing journeys online, and redefining what life without alcohol looks like. But is sobriety really the solution to everything… or just the starting point?

Shell, Iain and Ben explore the reality of getting sober in 2026. They talk about mental health, relationships, personal growth, masculinity, and the unexpected parts of recovery that no one really prepares you for. From building a life online to navigating real-world connection, this conversation goes far beyond just “not drinking.”

They get into what sobriety gives you, what it takes away, and why putting down the drink doesn’t automatically make you a better person.

This episode sits right in the tension between self-improvement and self-awareness, questioning what happens when the coping mechanism disappears and you’re left with… just yourself.

In this episode

• Life after alcohol: what actually changes (and what doesn’t)
• Ben Gibbs’ journey and building The Sober Boozer
• Alcohol-free beer, sober culture, and social life without drinking
• Relationships, breakups, and identity in sobriety
• Money, addiction, and shifting from chaos to stability
• Online sobriety vs real-life community
• Masculinity, the manosphere, and modern male identity
• Why sobriety doesn’t automatically fix your behaviour
• Boundaries, choice, and learning how to leave when you want to

If you’ve ever wondered what life really looks like after quitting alcohol, this episode will give you the honest version… not the Instagram one.

Expect sharp observations, uncomfortable truths, dark humour, and a few moments where you realise sobriety isn’t about becoming perfect… and that is ok!

👤 About our guest: Ben Gibbs

Ben Gibbs, also known as The Sober Boozer, has been a beer commentator and sobriety advocate since quitting alcohol in 2022. He’s sampled over 1000 alcohol-free beers, worked with breweries across the UK, appeared on BBC radio, and became the first person in recovery to win a British Guild of Beer Writers award for his work.

👉 Follow Ben:
Instagram: @ sober_boozers_club

Monthly beer subscription box click here

Connect With Us

@toosoberforthispodcast

Shell Righini - @shell_righini Iain Anderson - @iainanderson.comedy

Traumedy Show - https://iainandersoncomedy.com/

Listen to Shell’s podcast We Recover Loudly here on Spotify

This Podcast Is Brought to You By We Recover Loudly Merch

Bold recovery slogans and wearable reminders that recovery doesn’t have to be quiet.

Shop here: www.werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly

Mastered and edited by Unmuted Studios. Podcast production, editing, and creative support.

www.unmutedstudios.com

In this episode of Too Sober For This, recovery advocate Shell Righini and comedian Iain Anderson take on a very 2026 problem:

How is AI changing creativity, work, and the way we think?

From ChatGPT to AI design tools, artificial intelligence is everywhere. It’s writing emails, creating content, generating artwork, and helping people build businesses faster than ever. But is AI making life easier… or slowly replacing creativity, confidence, and human connection?

Shell and Iain explore the rise of AI in the creative industries and everyday life. They share their own experiences using AI for business, content creation, and decision-making; from productivity hacks and support with ADHD, to the unexpected downside of relying on it too much.

They get into the real impact of AI on artists, freelancers, and small business owners, and ask whether we’re entering a world of faster innovation or a sea of sameness.

This episode sits right in the tension between convenience and creativity, questioning what happens when everything becomes quicker, cheaper, and automated.

In this episode

• How AI tools like ChatGPT are changing creative work
• The impact of AI on artists, freelancers, and small businesses
• Productivity, ADHD, and using AI for support and structure
• The downside of AI: comparison, self-doubt, and over-reliance
• AI in content creation, design, and podcasting
• The ethics of AI and what “free” really costs
• Creativity vs automation; what happens to original thinking?
• Why everything is getting faster (and whether that’s a problem)
• Building a business in the age of AI

If you’ve ever used AI to write something, design something, or make life easier then this episode will make you think twice about what it’s really doing.

Expect honest conversations, sharp observations, dark humour, and a few moments where you realise… you might be outsourcing more than just your workload 😬.

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE :

AI tool Goblin Tools - https://goblin.tools/

The band Angine De Poitrine - https://www.instagram.com/anginedepoitrine/

Connect With Us

@toosoberforthispodcast

Shell Righini - @shell_righini Iain Anderson - @iainanderson.comedy

Traumedy Show - https://iainandersoncomedy.com/

Listen to Shell’s podcast We Recover Loudly here on Spotify

This Podcast Is Brought to You By We Recover Loudly Merch

Bold recovery slogans and wearable reminders that recovery doesn’t have to be quiet.

Shop here: www.werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly

Mastered and edited by Unmuted Studios. Podcast production, editing, and creative support.

www.unmutedstudios.com

In this episode of Too Sober For This, recovery advocate Shell Righini and comedian Iain Anderson take on a very 2026 problem:

Why does everyone sound like a therapist now?

From TikTok to group chats, therapy language has gone mainstream. Words like “boundaries”, “triggers”, “narcissist”, and “holding space” are everywhere. But are they helping us understand ourselves… or just helping us win arguments?

Shell and Iain unpack the rise of wellness culture and the explosion of self-help language online. What started as tools for healing are now often used as shields, weapons, and personality traits. They explore how therapy-speak is being misused, overused, and sometimes completely stripped of its meaning. From calling people “toxic” instead of having hard conversations, to diagnosing exes with zero qualifications, to setting “boundaries” that are actually just control.

This episode gets into the grey area between genuine growth and performative self-awareness, and asks whether we’re becoming more emotionally intelligent… or just better at sounding like we are.

In this episode

• Why therapy language is everywhere right now
• The difference between real boundaries and control
• How words like “narcissist” and “triggered” are being misused
• Wellness culture and the business of self-improvement
• Social media, identity, and performative healing
• When self-awareness becomes avoidance
• The fine line between growth and superiority
• Why not everything needs a label
• What actually helps vs what just sounds good

Get ready for uncomfortable truths, sharp observations, dark humour, and at least a few moments where you’ll wonder if you’ve ever said “I’m protecting my energy” and really meant “I don’t want to deal with this.” 😅

Connect With Us

@toosoberforthispodcast

Shell Righini - @shell_righini Iain Anderson - @iainanderson.comedy

Traumedy Show - https://iainandersoncomedy.com/

Listen to Shell’s podcast We Recover Loudly here on Spotify

This Podcast Is Brought to You By We Recover Loudly Merch

Bold recovery slogans and wearable reminders that recovery doesn’t have to be quiet.

Shop here: www.werecoverloudly.com

@werecoverloudly

Mastered and edited by Unmuted Studios. Podcast production, editing, and creative support.

www.unmutedstudios.com