Podcast
Addiction Unlimited Podcast
Hosted by Angela Pugh · EN
Are you ready to ditch daily drinking, reclaim your confidence, and create a life of freedom? Each week, Angela combines no-nonsense advice, personal stories, and science-backed strategies to tackle the challenges of sobriety. Angela Pugh is a globally-ranked Life Coach and podcast host, a professional Interventionist, and entrepreneur with more than 18 years of personal sobriety, helping people rebuild their lives since 2008. From navigating relationships to managing triggers, you’ll discover practical tools, empowering insights, and real-world solutions to thrive in sobriety. It’s time to stop feeling stuck and start feeling unlimited. Listen now for the inspiration, tools, and support you need to live a sober, confident, and happy life.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
She Didn’t Hit Rock Bottom — But She Knew She Had to Quit Drinking
2w ago00:56:00Tap to summarizeMaking rules, breaking rules, starting over — if drinking takes up too much space in your brain, you’ll recognize yourself in this conversation. Not a dramatic rock bottom. Not losing everything. Not waking up one day suddenly certain she had to quit forever. Just years of exhausting negotiation. She tracked sober days on a calendar she bought at Target, crossing off each X with a pen and a ruler. She made rules — only on weekends, only when she went out, never at home — and watched every single one of them quietly expand until drinking had taken over the whole week. She quit for 60 days in the summer of 2019 specifically to prove to herself she didn’t have a problem…then went to a Zach Brown concert and hopped right back on. Sound familiar? The hardest part often isn’t the drinking itself. It’s the obsession. The constant mental debate. The planning, the bargaining, the monitoring, the shame. The promises you make to yourself that somehow never stick. In this episode, we talk about: The mental exhaustion of trying to control something that can’t be controlled Why high-functioning people stay stuck for years — and why “I still went to work” isn’t the whole story What white-knuckling sobriety actually feels like, and why willpower eventually runs out How connection and community changed everything for Denise What finally helped her stop going it alone What life actually looks and feels like five years in We also talk about the fear of quitting forever, the weird and wonderful things that surprised her in early sobriety, and why the evolution doesn’t happen sitting on your couch. This one is honest, funny, and real. If you’ve ever thought “maybe I can still figure this out” — this episode is for you.   Links mentioned in this episode: Book a Call: addictionunlimited.com/call Related Episode: It’s Not Your Drinking, It’s Your Thinking Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/addictionunlimited/
Transcribe →What “Doing the Work” in Recovery Actually Means
3w ago00:25:41Tap to summarizeThis is a real conversation about what doing the work in recovery actually looks like beyond just “not drinking.”
Transcribe →You Can’t Build a New Life With Old Materials
4w ago00:20:46Tap to summarizeYou quit drinking—and now you’re staring at your life like… now what? No one really talks about this part. The part where alcohol is gone, but everything else is still the same—and suddenly, nothing fits. It feels hollow. Disconnected. Like you’re just trying to survive your own evenings. So you start questioning it: “Maybe I’m doing this wrong.” “Maybe sobriety isn’t for me.” That’s not the problem. The problem is you’re trying to build a new life using old materials. In this episode, we’re breaking down why that gap feels so uncomfortable—and what actually needs to happen for sobriety to start feeling like your life, not just something you’re trying to manage. Because nothing changes if nothing changes. And I’m sharing the exact shift that made the difference for me: a simple decision filter that completely rewired how I lived in early sobriety. “Is this what the old me would do?” If the answer was yes—I did the opposite. Not because it felt good. Not because it was easy. But because that’s how you build a new identity—one decision at a time. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to stop letting the old version of you make the decisions. Because you don’t get a new life by cleaning up the old one. You get it by building something completely different. If you’re sober but stuck… this is the episode that shows you what comes next.   Book A Call: addictionunlimited.com/call Related Episode: The Real Danger of Your Drunk Identity Find me on Instagram: @addictionunlimited
Transcribe →4 Signs Sobriety Is Actually Working (Even When It Feels Like It’s Not)
Apr 2900:16:09Tap to summarizeYou’re doing everything right — so why does sobriety feel like it’s making everything worse? One of my clients came to me about a month into our work together and she was defeated. Not the white-knuckling kind of defeated — the kind that comes from trying really hard and feeling like it’s not working. She was crying more than when she was drinking. Fighting more with her partner. She couldn’t answer the question “what do you like to do for fun?” without going completely blank. She looked at me and said, “I think I’m doing this wrong.” She wasn’t. And if you’re in that same place right now — somewhere in that 30 to 90 day window wondering if sobriety is actually making things worse — this episode is for you. I walk you through the 4 things that happen in early recovery that look like failure but are actually signs you’re doing it exactly right. In this episode: Why nothing feels fun anymore — and what’s happening in your brain Why you’re more emotional in sobriety, not less Why your relationships feel harder right now The difference between needing rest and disappearing Why the 30–90 day window is quietly one of the most dangerous in early recovery The discomfort isn’t a detour on the way to healing. The discomfort is the healing.   Links mentioned in this episode: Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call Related Episode: 5 Truths You Must Accept to Battle Addiction Follow on Instagram: Instagram.com/addictionunlimited Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Transcribe →You’re Not Quitting Drinking — You’re Visiting Sobriety
Apr 2200:17:28Tap to summarizeHave you told yourself you were done — really done — more times than you can count? Not cutting back, not taking a break. Done. And then a few days go by, maybe a few weeks, and suddenly the conversation starts again. Maybe just tonight. Maybe I’ve got it under control now. If that pattern sounds familiar, here’s what’s actually going on: you haven’t decided yet. In this episode, we’re breaking down the difference between visiting sobriety and actually leaving — and why keeping the door open even just a little bit is exactly what keeps the cycle going. This isn’t about willpower or wanting it badly enough. It’s about a decision you haven’t fully made. You’ll hear why taking a break from drinking can actually keep you stuck longer than the drinking itself, what your brain is really doing when it keeps bringing alcohol back up for review, and why the fear of “forever” isn’t a sign you’re not ready — it’s a sign you haven’t closed the loop. In this episode: Why taking a break from drinking feels productive — but isn’t actually changing anything The difference between trying to quit and deciding to quit — and why that gap is everything What “visiting sobriety” really means and why so many people live there for years Why clarity doesn’t come after you quit — it comes from the decision itself What it looks like to build a real system around your sobriety instead of relying on willpower If you’re tired of starting over, tired of the negotiation, tired of waking up and having the same exhausting conversation in your head — this episode is your next step. Ready to stop the cycle? Book a call with Angela at addictionunlimited.com/call Related Episode: The Science Of Sobriety And How To Feel Better Faster    
Transcribe →You Meant It When You Said You Were Done Drinking
Apr 1500:21:01Tap to summarizeEvery single time you said you were done, you meant it. So why does it keep not sticking? Most people blame willpower. Or discipline. Or not wanting it badly enough. But this episode goes somewhere different — somewhere most recovery content never goes. Because the real reason “I’m done” doesn’t hold has nothing to do with how serious you are. It has everything to do with what’s been happening underneath the surface, quietly, every single day you were drinking. Every hidden bottle. Every “just two” that turned into six. Every lie you told yourself and your family. Your brain was keeping score. And over time, it built a verdict about you — one you never consciously chose, but one you feel every time you make a promise to yourself. So now, when you decide to quit… there’s a part of you that doesn’t fully believe you. Yeah… we’ll see. That erosion of self-trust is the layer nobody’s talking about. And until you understand it, you’ll keep wondering why intention alone isn’t enough. In this episode, we cover: The hidden sacrifices drinking demands — beyond the health costs and the money Why every broken promise to yourself compounds into something that changes how you see yourself What’s really happening internally the moment you say “I’m done” — and why part of you doesn’t believe it How the self-trust damage bleeds out of the drinking lane and into your whole life The only way to actually rebuild — and why it’s smaller than you think In this episode, we’re going deeper than the usual conversation about willpower, discipline, or trying harder. If you’ve been wondering why nothing sticks… this may be the piece you’ve been missing.   Ready to stop repeating the cycle? If you’re done with the back and forth… done starting over… and ready for support and relief — Let’s talk: addictionunlimited.com/call Related Episode: Why You Can’t Quit Drinking and What Stage You’re Actually In
Transcribe →The Raw Truth About Moderating Your Drinking
Apr 800:24:43Tap to summarizeYou’re not stuck because you can’t quit—you’re stuck because you’re still trying to control it. If you’ve ever told yourself “this time will be different”… only to end up right back at day one, this episode is going to hit. Because the problem isn’t that you don’t want to stop. It’s that part of you still wants alcohol to work. So instead of walking away… you keep negotiating. You make new rules. You try new strategies. You convince yourself you’ve got it handled. And for a little while, it feels like progress. But it’s not. It’s the same cycle—just dressed up differently. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly why moderating your drinking keeps you stuck, why it feels like effort but leads nowhere, and the truth you have to face if you actually want to get out of the loop. This is the shift most people avoid… and the one that changes everything. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why trying to “control” your drinking is what keeps you stuck in the cycle The real reason moderation feels like progress (but isn’t) What’s actually happening when you keep resetting and starting over Why this isn’t a discipline or willpower problem The hidden attachment that keeps pulling you back in How this pattern quietly destroys your confidence and self-trust Why fear—not failure—is the reason you stay stuck The truth about control that no one talks about What it actually takes to break the cycle for good If you’re tired of starting over… tired of negotiating with yourself… tired of feeling like you “should have this figured out by now”… This episode will show you exactly what’s been keeping you stuck—and what needs to change. Ready to stop the cycle for good? If you’re done trying to figure this out on your own and you’re ready to build something solid, I can help. 👉 Book a call: https://addictionunlimited.com/call We’ll talk about where you are, what’s been keeping you stuck, and what you actually need to move forward—with real support, real structure, and real direction. 👉 Related Episode: You’re Not Doing the Work — You’re Just Watching Other People Do It
Transcribe →You Want Sobriety to Be Easy… That’s Why You Keep Starting Over
Apr 100:18:31Tap to summarizeIf you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I just quit drinking and move on?” — this episode is going to hit. Because the truth is, most people don’t struggle with sobriety because they’re incapable… they struggle because they’re trying to make it easy. You want to quit drinking without disrupting your life. Without changing your routines. Without feeling uncomfortable. You want to put the bottle down and just move on like nothing happened. And that’s exactly why it’s not sticking. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reason you keep starting over—and it has nothing to do with willpower, discipline, or how badly you want it. It comes down to this: easy doesn’t change anything. We’re talking about what “easy sobriety” actually looks like in real life (and why it fails), what you’re really avoiding when you say you want this to feel easier, and the identity shift that has to happen if you want this to last. Because sobriety isn’t just about not drinking. It’s about becoming someone who lives differently. And that requires change. Real change. The kind that feels uncomfortable at first—but actually works. If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of starting over, making new rules, taking breaks, and trying to “figure it out” on your own… this episode will show you exactly where things are breaking down—and what needs to happen next. In this episode, I cover: Why wanting sobriety to be easy is keeping you stuck What “easy sobriety” actually looks like (and why it fails) The real reason you keep starting over What you’re avoiding—and why that matters The identity shift required for lasting sobriety   Links mentioned in this episode: Book a call (Private Coaching): https://addictionunlimited.com/call Join the Recovery Accelerator: https://addictionunlimited.com/accelerator Addiction Unlimited Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited  
Transcribe →The 3 Things You’re Missing That Keep You Stuck in the Relapse Cycle
Mar 2500:18:07Tap to summarizeYou’re not crazy… but I know it feels like you are. You say you’re done.And you mean it. You wake up with that clarity… that this time is different energy. And for a little while, it is. A few days. Maybe a couple weeks. You feel better. Clearer. Back in control. And then something hits. Stress.Boredom.A bad day.A feeling you don’t know what to do with. And just like that… you’re right back where you started. Again. So what’s going on? Because this is the part that makes no sense: You’re smart.You’re capable.You handle everything else in your life. So why does this one thing keep taking you out? Why do you keep doing something you know isn’t working? Here’s the truth: It’s not a willpower problem. You’re not weak.You’re not broken. But you are missing a few critical pieces. And until you fix those…you’ll keep repeating the same cycle no matter how many times you start over. And there’s one part almost no one talks about— Even if you’re doing everything “right”… If part of you is still thinking:“Maybe someday I’ll be able to drink again”or“I’m not that bad” …you’re still in it. Because as long as alcohol is still an option in your mind,you will keep going back to it. That’s the loop. In this episode, I break it all down. Why you keep ending up back at Day One—even when you’re trying.What’s actually missing from your approach.The moment where most people relapse—and what’s really happening there.And the mindset that quietly keeps you stuck, even when you think you’re doing everything right. If you’re tired of starting over… this is where things can actually change. You don’t need more information. You need structure.You need support.You need a system that works when things get hard. That’s exactly what I’ve built inside the Recovery Accelerator. 👉 Join here: addictionunlimited.com/accelerator Enrollment closes April 2. If you’re done messing around and you want real help: 👉 Book a call: addictionunlimited.com/call We’ll talk about where you are, what’s getting in the way, and we can start RIGHT NOW. 👉 Related Episode: You’re Not Doing the Work – You’re Just Watching Other People Do It
Transcribe →Why Do I Miss Drinking When I Know It Was Ruining My Life?
Mar 1800:18:56Tap to summarizeYou keep thinking about the fun times. The laughs, the connection, the way it helped you relax. And the more you think about it, the harder recovery feels. Sound familiar? In this episode, we’re talking about why romanticizing your drinking keeps you stuck — and how to redirect that same energy toward the life you actually want to build. Because your future deserves a highlight reel too. Your brain isn’t lying — those moments were real. The relief, the connection, the way it felt after a hard week — it happened. But your brain is curating. It’s playing a movie trailer of your drinking life — all the best scenes, none of the wreckage. None of the 2am version. None of the shame you carried like a second skin. And when the fantasy feels better than the reality of building something new, people get frozen between two lives — the one they’re trying to leave, and the one they haven’t started building yet. That’s the trap. What if you gave yourself permission to daydream about the future with the same energy you’ve been giving the past? The vacation you’ll actually remember. The money that stays in your account. The version of you who makes a plan and follows through. The parent who’s actually present. The life where you’re not maintaining a double life anymore — where what people see is actually who you are. In this episode, I’ll walk you through four tools to make that shift stick — including how to play the full tape when nostalgia hits, how to build a sober vision specific enough to compete with the past, and how to start building the identity you actually want to step into. What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why your brain plays a highlight reel of your drinking — and why it’s lying to you by omission The identity void that happens when you stop drinking and why it’s one of the biggest relapse triggers nobody talks about How to build a vision of your sober life that’s specific, compelling, and worth staying for Four practical tools to redirect your romanticizing from the past to the future What it actually feels like to not have a double life anymore Grab your earbuds, get comfy, and let’s build something worth romanticizing.   Links Mentioned: 📞 Book a call: addictionunlimited.com/call 🎧 Sober Vision episode: Crafting Your Most Powerful Sober Vision 📸 Instagram @addictionunlimited 👥 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Transcribe →