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.
37episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
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 →What If Life Is Boring Without Alcohol?
Mar 1100:17:08Tap to summarizeWhat if life is boring without alcohol? That’s one of the biggest fears people have when they think about quitting drinking. Not just, “What will I do on Friday night?”But deeper questions like: Will I still be fun? Will people still like me? Will my relationship still work? What do I do with stress, anxiety, awkwardness, or family events without a drink? In this episode, I’m breaking down why that fear is so common, what’s really happening underneath it, and why “boredom” usually isn’t the real issue at all. We’re talking about the way alcohol becomes the signal to relax, connect, celebrate, and cope — and why removing it can feel like pulling a load-bearing wall out of your life. I also share a personal story about one of my biggest fears in early sobriety: that I wouldn’t be funny anymore. If you’ve been worried that life without alcohol will feel dull, lonely, or less fun, this episode will help you understand what’s actually going on — and why the version of you on the other side of this fear is more real, more confident, and more free. In this episode, we talk about: why people fear life without alcohol will be boring the real fear underneath “boredom” social anxiety, identity, and sober confidence how alcohol becomes the off switch for stress and discomfort why early sobriety can feel flat or empty at first dopamine, brain recalibration, and emotional healing how relationships and social life change without alcohol what it means to build a life you actually trust yourself in If you’ve ever wondered what life without alcohol actually looks like, grab your latte, pop in your earbuds, and let’s talk about what’s really going on underneath that fear.   Mentioned in this episode: Ready to stop drinking and start right now?DM me the word READY on Instagram or Facebook at Addiction Unlimited and let’s talk. Workshop:Why You Keep Starting OverMarch 26 at 10am CT$67 Register here:addictionunlimited.com/workshop Related Episode: The 4-Stage Recovery Roadmap and What to Work on at Each Stage
Transcribe →Why Everything Feels So Intense When You Quit Drinking
Mar 400:25:32Tap to summarizeEarly sobriety can feel like your emotions are turned up to 100 — and if you don’t understand what’s happening in your nervous system, it can feel overwhelming fast. One of the biggest mistakes people make in recovery is assuming every uncomfortable feeling is the same thing. We call it anxiety, we try to breathe through it, journal through it, or just push through it… and when that doesn’t work, we feel like we’re failing. But the truth is, not all emotional activation is the same — and different states require different tools. In this episode, I’m breaking down four common types of emotional dysregulation that show up in sobriety and the practical tools that actually help regulate each one. Because staying sober isn’t just about willpower. It’s about learning how to regulate your nervous system without alcohol. You’ll hear about: Why early sobriety emotions can feel so intense • The difference between rumination, attachment activation, shame spirals, and under-stimulation • Why trying to “think your way out” of dysregulation rarely works • The reason alcohol felt like it solved everything — and what to replace it with • Practical tools you can use when your nervous system is activated If you’ve ever felt like your brain is spinning, your emotions are overwhelming, or you’re reacting to things in ways you don’t fully understand — this episode will help you make sense of what’s happening and give you tools that actually work. Because the goal of recovery isn’t just quitting drinking. It’s learning how to live in your own nervous system without needing alcohol to regulate it.   Links Mentioned in This Episode Ready to get support and build a clear recovery plan?Book a call with Angela:https://addictionunlimited.com/call Want a structured path to long-term sobriety?Learn more about the Recovery Accelerator Group:https://addictionunlimited.com/accelerator Listen to this related episode:6 Sobriety Traps That Trigger Relapse in Early Recoveryhttps://addictionunlimited.com/6-sobriety-traps-that-trigger-relapse-in-early-recovery/ Join our free sober community:Addiction Unlimited Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited Follow along for daily recovery insights:Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/addictionunlimited/
Transcribe →What Living in Recovery Actually Looks Like
Feb 2500:29:59Tap to summarizeYou know recovery is supposed to be more than just not drinking, but the day still feels like you’re mostly just getting through it. You might just be missing the foundation that makes recovery actually feel like something. Here’s what I know to be true: sobriety removes the alcohol. Recovery heals the patterns underneath it. And those are two very different things. But understanding the difference is one thing — living it on an ordinary Tuesday is another. In this episode, I’m walking you through a full recovery-focused day — hour by hour — and showing you exactly what living in recovery looks like in practice. We’re grounding it all in the three things addiction needs to thrive, and what you can do every single day to take them away from it. Not a perfect day. An intentional one. If you’ve ever wondered what recovery is actually supposed to look like — or you’ve been sober for a while and still feel like something’s missing — this one’s for you, my friend.   IN THIS EPISODE: The real difference between sobriety and recovery — and why it changes everything about how you approach your day The three things addiction needs to survive — and how recovery dismantles all three of them Why emotional isolation is just as dangerous as physical isolation — even if your calendar is full Why 99% of recovery — especially early on — is nervous system regulation, and what that actually looks like in your morning The eye contact story — and how breaking anxiety down into tiny pieces changed everything for me What active participation really means — and how to tell the difference between showing up and actually doing the work Why avoidance and procrastination aren’t laziness — they’re emotion regulation, and what to do about it instead How to close your day with honesty and intention — without the shame spiral This is the episode I wish I’d had when I first got sober. Hit play, my friend — let’s walk through the day together.   RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED: Episode 420 — Why You’re Sober But Still Have the Same Problems Episode 421 — Overwhelmed by Sobriety Advice? Here’s How to Actually Start Episode 418 — Presence Is Not Participation Recovery Accelerator — 4-Week Group Coaching Program: addictionunlimited.com/accelerator Book a Call with Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call   CONNECT: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/addictionunlimited/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
Transcribe →What Am I Doing Wrong?” (6 Non-Negotiables for Real Change)
Feb 1800:20:25Tap to summarizeIf you keep asking yourself “What am I doing wrong?” — this episode is for you. Most people relapse dozens of times before they actually get it right. And if that’s you, I know how exhausting that cycle is. But here’s the truth: There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s not that you don’t want it badly enough. It’s that the answer you need isn’t about actions and distractions. It’s about the mindset shifts that create real, lasting change. Today, I’m giving you the 6 non-negotiables that separate people who actually change from people who keep starting over. This isn’t a checklist. This isn’t about doing more things. This is about shifting how you think, how you show up, and who you become. These 6 principles apply to recovery — but they also apply to life. Career. Relationships. Health. Any major transformation. This is your personal code of conduct for real change. In this episode, you’ll learn: – 2:43: Why discomfort doesn’t mean bad — it just means you’re working a new muscle – 5:07: The real sacrifices recovery requires (and the ones you conveniently forget you already made) – 7:11: How to stop controlling what other people think and start prioritizing what you know – 9:17: Why brutal honesty is the only way forward — and how ego keeps you stuck – 10:53: What willingness actually looks like (hint: your feelings can’t run the show) – 13:15: Why you have to grow the fuck up — whether you feel like it or not – 14:00: The bear analogy that will change how you think about your alcoholism Listen in and decide: Are you ready to stop doing busy work and start doing the real work? Because that’s where actual change happens.   LINKS MENTIONED: – Recovery Starter Kit – Book a Free Consultation Call: addictionunlimited.com/call – Related Episode: Why You’re Sober But Still Have the Same Problems – Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited  
Transcribe →The 4-Stage Recovery Roadmap and What to Work on at Each Stage
Feb 1100:19:22Tap to summarizeThe 4-Stage Recovery Roadmap and What to Work on at Each Stage If you’re feeling stuck or confused about where you are in your sobriety and what you should actually be working on, this episode is for you. I see it all the time: people trying to fix everything at once, or trying to skip ahead to the deep emotional work when they haven’t even built a stable foundation yet. And then they relapse. Or they burn out. Or they just stay stuck in the same patterns. Today, I’m breaking down the four stages of recovery—what you should be focusing on at each stage, and why you can’t skip ahead. Here’s the thing: the timelines I’m giving you are general guidelines. They’re not rules. For me, I spent way more time in Stage 2. I needed that time. But Stage 3 went faster for me because I loved that part of my process —it was hands down my favorite part of the steps. So don’t get hung up on the timeline. What matters is that you’re doing the work required in each stage before you move on to the next one. You get out of this exactly what you put into it. In this episode, you’ll learn: –> 3:17: What Stage 1 actually looks like—and why the only goal is “don’t drink today” –> 6:03: How to navigate Stage 2 when you’re asking “Who am I without alcohol?” –> 11:05: Why Stage 3 is about rebuilding what matters and letting go of what doesn’t –> 14:11: What it means to shift from surviving to thriving in Stage 4 –> 16:50: Why you absolutely cannot skip stages—and what happens when you try Listen in and figure out where you are right now. Then focus on the work that actually matters at this stage—so you can build a life so powerful, so clear, so good that you’ll never want to leave it.   LINKS MENTIONED: Recovery Starter Kit Book a Free Consultation Call: addictionunlimited.com/call Episode 421 – Overwhelmed by Sobriety Advice, Here’s How to Actually Start Cozy Earth – Use code ANGELA for 20% off
Transcribe →Overwhelmed by Sobriety Advice? Here’s How to Actually Start
Feb 400:33:30Tap to summarizeYou know what’s keeping you from getting sober? All the advice telling you how to get sober. Everyone’s got a different rulebook. The old-timers say meetings every day, get a sponsor immediately, work the steps to a tee. People like me say do it your way—you don’t have to follow the doctrine perfectly. And newer recovery voices are teaching completely different avenues to recovery. And you’re stuck in the middle, just trying to figure out how to get through today without a drink, paralyzed by all these options, wondering which path is “right.” Here’s the truth nobody’s telling you: There is no wrong way. I’m giving you the three universal foundations that every strong sobriety is built on, and showing you how to stop waiting for permission and just start. You’ll learn: Why success rates prove the program doesn’t decide—YOU do (and what recent research actually shows) The three universal foundations every strong sobriety is built on How to pick your path when everyone’s telling you something different What to actually DO today to start building your sobriety Remember, a program doesn’t determine your success. You do. A program doesn’t work or not work. YOU work. YOU show up, do the things, follow guidance… or you don’t. Your success is your decision. In this episode, I’m cutting through all the noise and breaking down exactly what you need to start your recovery journey today—no matter which path or program you choose. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EISODE Free Download: Daily Plan → Recovery Starter Kit Step-by-step lessons, worksheets, checklists, and conversation starters for the hard talks. Walks you through building the three foundations with actual tools, not just concepts. Book a Call → addictionunlimited.com/call Not sure where you are or what level of support you need? Let’s talk. We’ll figure out what’s the right fit for you right now. Related Episode: Episode 418: You’re Not Doing the Work, You’re Just Watching Other People Do It  
Transcribe →How to Make Dating Apps Less Frustrating and More Fun
Feb 26, 202500:37:48Tap to summarizeWhy do people flake? Why do they lie in their profiles? Why does it feel like no one is actually looking for a real connection? Dating apps promise endless possibilities, yet so many of us find ourselves endlessly frustrated. You swipe and swipe, hoping for a spark, only to be ghosted, breadcrumbed, or hit with yet another “Hey” that leads nowhere. It’s exhausting, discouraging, and sometimes downright infuriating. It’s easy to blame the apps, the algorithm, or the people on the other end of the screen, and to assume that the other side has it easier, that they’re the ones doing the ghosting or playing games. But in reality, they’re just as fed up with the disappointment, rejection, the feeling of being ignored, the frustration with people not putting in effort… Men and women are equally frustrated with inaccurate or just bad photos, the mixed signals, and the endless cycle of swiping with little reward. So today, we’re diving into the shared struggles of modern dating—the things we all complain about, why they happen, and most importantly, what we can do about it. Because when things don’t go the way we want, we get mad—at the apps, at the people, at the whole dating process. But maybe, just maybe, we’re all part of the same problem… and the same solution. Links mentioned in this episode: Talk to Angela : addictionunlimited.com/call Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to keep moving forward to the recovery lifestyle they want. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Transcribe →The Best Dating & Relationship Lessons I Learned From My Sponsor
Feb 19, 202500:28:51Tap to summarizeYou have more power in your dating life than you think. The way we think about dating—our expectations, assumptions, and mindset—shapes our experience before we even meet someone. When we go in with pressure, self-doubt, or fear of rejection, dating feels hard, like a lost cause, and discouraging. But with a few small mindset shifts, dating can become lighter, more fun, and way less stressful. In today’s episode, I’m sharing the life-changing lessons I learned from my sponsor—lessons that helped me break free from destructive dating habits, stop chasing people who weren’t right for me, and start approaching dating with clarity and confidence. And here’s the biggest shift: I realized I was the one holding the power all along, and so are you. 💯You get to choose who you invest in. 💯You get to decide what you want. 💯And you don’t have to take it personally when someone else’s choices don’t align with yours. And the best part? These lessons aren’t just for dating—they apply to every relationship in your life. Whether you’re single, dating, or in a long-term relationship, learning to shift your expectations and own your choices will help you build healthier, more fulfilling connections. If dating feels frustrating, exhausting, or just not fun, this episode is for you. Let’s talk about how small shifts in your perspective can make all the difference. Links mentioned in this episode: Is Angela the right Coach for you? Book A Call Here to find out : addictionunlimited.com/call Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to keep moving forward to the recovery lifestyle they want. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Transcribe →Dating Smarter, Not Harder by Setting Clear Dating Intentions
Feb 12, 202500:25:49Tap to summarizeThat rush of excitement when you meet or match with someone new—the butterflies, the spark, the hope that maybe this time it’s real. And then… it fizzles. They ghost. 🚫 They’re not who they said they were. 🎭 Their pictures were old or heavily filtered, and you don’t even recognize them in real life. 🤦♀️ Or worse—they seem amazing, but they don’t feel the same way about you. And just like that, excitement turns into disappointment, frustration, maybe even bitterness. Sound familiar? Let’s be real—dating isn’t hard because there’s a shortage of good people. It’s hard when we don’t have a clear plan, when we ignore red flags, and when we’re too focused on what other people are doing instead of how we’re showing up. In today’s episode, we’re shifting the focus away from what other people are doing and taking control of our own dating experience. Dating gets easier when we get better at it, not when we expect others to change. That means setting clear standards, communicating our intentions, and filtering out the people who don’t align with what we truly want. Whether you’re actively dating, in a relationship, or even married, these skills will help you navigate love at every stage. I want to shift your entire approach and how you even think about dating, and what I’m about to share with you will transform the way you think about love, relationships, dating, and most importantly, yourself. If you’re tired of feeling frustrated with dating, ready to stop second-guessing your choices, and attract the kind of relationship that actually makes you happy then this episode is for you. So if you’ve ever felt like you’re losing hope, or that you’re destined to be alone, grab your latte, fire up your earbuds, and let’s talk about how to date smarter, not harder. Links mentioned in this episode: Book A Free Call With Angela: addictionunlimited.com/call Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts “I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.” <– If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to keep moving forward to the recovery lifestyle they want. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
Transcribe →