What if summer didn't have to be scripted by booze? In this solo episode, Anna Donaghey answers a listener's question: "What does it actually mean to get curious about my drinking this summer?"
Anna dismantles "summer scripts", the invisible associations between alcohol and fun, relaxation, or connection. Instead of forcing abstinence or restriction, she offers a gentle, practical process: What are you really looking forward to at each event? What job are you asking alcohol to do? What meaningful moments might you notice if you step out of autopilot?
Whether you want to quit, cut back, or just understand your habits, this is about empowered choice, not deprivation. Expect relatable validation, zero judgment, and practical reflection tools you can use straight away.
Here are the Highlights:
00:00 Intro: Anna welcomes listeners to a summer Q&A episode
01:30 Listener question: “What does being curious mean?”
02:20 How curiosity became Anna’s most powerful tool
03:54 How watching, noticing, and observing can make occasions richer
05:25 The energy drain of strict “quitting” vs. the freedom of curiosity
06:29 How the drinks industry scripts our summer
09:06 What are your “summer scripts”?
10:53 Why simply SEEING the script changes everything
12:17 Practical reflection: Questions to ask before, during, and after events
15:26 What job are you giving alcohol? Stress relief, connection, or ritual?
18:11 Experimenting with non-drinking, not as a rule, but as a test
19:28 What do you remember about these events?
20:41 Setting a feeling-based intention for your summer
22:12 Tiny experiments that help you learn what you really want
24:06 Pick one event this summer to do differently
26:23 How one curious occasion can change your entire perspective
Anna’s book "What Are You Thirsty For? Rethinking Alcohol and The Life You Want", is now out in the world for you to buy!
Order your copy, access her free tools and explore her coaching programmes at: https://thebigdrinkrethink.com/
The Thirsty For More Mindset Lab is Anna’s ‘inner circle’ - a calm, thoughtful space where conversations continue, patterns are explored, and things begin to make sense. Find out more at: https://thirstyformore.substack.com/
If you appreciate the podcast and would like to show a bit of love, you can donate the cost of a coffee here. It helps support the time and care that goes into making the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/bigdrinkrethink
About the host Anna:
Anna is a certified Alcohol Mindset Coach, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind. Drawing on her own journey out of alcohol addiction, she now helps others explore and control their drinking. With a career spanning 25 years as a Strategist in the Advertising industry, she combines her own lived experiences, with great insight into what makes us tick and what influences us to behave the way we do.
Connect with Anna:
Website: thebigdrinkrethink.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey
Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
Mentioned in this episode:
Anna and fellow coach Tabbin Almond are excited to announce they’re hosting a free webinar on Thursday 9th July to share what they’ve learnt about what women actually need when they want to change their relationship with alcohol. You can save your spot here: https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/webinar
