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Living Free

The Living Free Crew

Talk on substance misuse, alcoholism and other addictions. Information on support groups is given.

news & politics

All Episodes

Gamblers Anonymous - Chris 17 July 2025

Living Free ·

2025/07/17

Chris joined Michael in the studio to share his experience of how addiction to gambling brought him to his knees and the freedom he has experienced since finding a solution in Gamblers Anonymous.

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Alcoholism, Authenticity and some clips from the...

Living Free ·

2025/07/03

Ann and Zakia chat about the difficulties of being authentic when you come from a dysfunctional family or from a place where the language is different. And we play some clips from the Living Free archives. The Living Free show is a place to hear authentic story-telling from people who have struggled with the effects of addiction, their own or others'.If you would like to hear the whole conversations, the clips were from these

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SMART Recovery - Nigel Harpley

Living Free ·

2025/06/26

Grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), SMART Recovery is a self-empowering approach to addiction and other problematic behaviours. SMART Recovery groups support people with substance dependencies or problem behaviours to lead a balanced life. Nigel is a facilitator of such a group and has lived experience of alcohol dependency. In this episode he discusses the use of CBT, mindfulness and breathwork to help stay free of addictions. If you're concerned about your own problematic behaviour

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Zac 19June2025

Living Free ·

2025/06/19

Zac joined Michael and Bill in the studio to share his experience of life as a practising alcoholic, reaching a rock bottom in his early 30's and now having had one year of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymmous.

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3CR Radiothon - Ann, Mitch, Zakia, Michael and Bill...

Living Free ·

2025/06/12

Well, it’s been another big year since our last Radiothon, and this time Zakia and Michael could also join us to amp up the volume another notch for this year’s show. Thanks to your generous support, by the end of the show, we had managed to raise $3,400, $900 over our target of $2,500. If you would also like to support 3CR then go to https://www.3cr.org.au/donate to see your options.Thanks also to our guests on the show over the last 12 months from:Al-Anon Family Groups

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'Uncovery'- Freedom from Eating Disorders with Olivia...

Living Free ·

2025/06/05

In this episode Michael and I chat with Olivia Soha about 1:1 recovery coaching tailored to the individual needs of people with eating disorders. Olivia is the founder of 'Uncovery' which she started in 2018, inspired by her own experience of living with an eating disorder. She was keen to help others find the meaning and purpose they would need to keep going once the medical aspects of their illness had been addressed. Find out more about Olivia's work here:

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SMART Recovery Australia - Tracy-Lee

Living Free ·

2025/05/22

Tracey-Lee had an unconventional childhood in which she experienced some trauma, relating to her father's outbursts of rage. At the same time she discovered a talent for performance and this gave her a pathway to self-expression. But as she enterered adulthood she felt unbalanced, developing a tendency to addictive behaviours as she searched for comfort and relief. After struggles with binge eating, amphetamine use and dysfunctional relationships, all of which caused her physical and mental

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Steve on 15MAY2025

Living Free ·

2025/05/15

Steve joined Michael in the studio to share his experience of getting sober in his early 20's, his early days in Alcoholics Anonymous and what his life looks like now.

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Al-Anon Family Groups - Bill on 08MAY2025

Living Free ·

2025/05/08

Bill grew up with an active alcoholic father and as a young adult sought help through an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and was directed to Al-Anon Family Groups. He found help in those early years in the Al-Anon meetings and over forty years later he discusses the impact of Al-Anon in transforming his life and relationships, particularly with his father and with his family and friends.If someone else's drinking is causing you a problem, then you can phone the Al-Anon Family Groups helpline on 1300

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SMART Recovery Australia - Dan Raffell

Living Free ·

2025/04/24

Dan Raffell, National Co-ordinator and Trainer at SMART Recovery Australia, describes his lived experience of drug abuse as 'hands on vocational training'. He has put this training to good use over the last 22 years working in the drug and alcohol recovery field in his native Scotland and here in Australia. Today Dan joins us to chat about, among other things, how small changes in habits and behaviours compound themselves and can lead to huge long term improvement in our lives. He describes how

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Gamblers Anonymous - Adrian on 17APR2025

Living Free ·

2025/04/17

Adrian is in his 30’s and has been in Gamblers Anonymous for five years. He discusses how his gambling progressed from sports betting with the help of older kids at 13 years old, underage horse punting at TABs with school friends to becoming a serious problem in his life before he turned 18. It affected Adrian’s school and personal life and mixing betting and drinking soon made his situation much worse. He found recovery in Gamblers Anonymous after debt collectors contacted his parents and exposed

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Jeff on 10APRIL2025

Living Free ·

2025/04/10

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Recovery - Mandy and Richard

Living Free ·

2025/04/03

Mandy and Richard join Ann for a conversation about recovery from, among other things, alcohol, worry and minding other people's business. If someone else's drinking is causing you a problem, then you can phone the Al-Anon Family Groups helpline on 1300 252 666 or go online at al-anon.org.au for more information.If you would like to find out a bit more about alcoholism for yourself or a friend, then you can give Alcoholics Anonymous a call on 1300 222 222 or check out their website aa.org.au.Show

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SMART Recovery - Kerry

Living Free ·

2025/03/27

Kerry grew up in a home where there was violence and moved into adult life resilient but missing some of the skills for coping with life's difficulties. She developed an addiction to sugar from which she found recovery in Overeaters Anonymous, then several years later she found herself drinking too much and made her way to Alcoholics Anonymous. She discovered SMART Recovery in its early days in Australia and found in its approach 'the future of addiction treatment'. She is one of the longest running

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Jane on 20MAR2025

Living Free ·

2025/03/20

Jane grew up in a loving family even though both her parents were alcoholics, her dad recovering in Alcoholics Anonymous and her mum still actively drinking. Her parents split when she was around 6 years old, and her mum’s bender-drinking quickly escalated. Jane and her sister took care of her mum for a few years until her father began to look after them again for two years.Jane grew up fast, felt ill at ease with her school life and started rebelling at home, began drinking and taking drugs. She

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Narcotics Anonymous - Jesse on 13MAR2025

Living Free ·

2025/03/13

Jesse grew up in a good home with good morals. He was a small kid and often felt scared and lonely. He was bullied at school and eventually turned to alcohol and then drugs in his early teens as they made him feel like he fitted in and more relaxed.His drinking and drug use progressed, adversely affecting his work and ruining his close relationships. His mum was a significant influence in him seeking help when all seemed lost when he was in his mid-20’s. Jesse was fortunate to get into a 12th step

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Al-Anon Family Groups - Josephine and Dejan

Living Free ·

2025/03/06

Josephine grew up in suburban Melbourne in a family where addiction was an issue. Preoccupied with success, Josephine achieved highly at school and university but not without consequences for her mental health. Encouraged by her mother, she sought the support of Al-Anon. Now living in Berlin, Josephine and her partner Dejan both attend Al-Anon. In this episode, Josephine tells her story. Towards the end, Dejan joins the conversation and both partners discuss the importance of recovery in their

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SMART Recovery - Kate

Living Free ·

2025/02/27

Kate began her recovery from addiction when she decided to 'live' instead of following her life-long pattern of taking 'chemical holidays'. Using alcohol and drugs from a young age had had a negative effect on Kate's happiness and she found herself in relationships and situations that were dangerous for her mental health. Kate has found through SMART Recovery renewed joy and revitalisation of her creativity. She facilitates a Womens Meeting every Sunday night, via Zoom.SMART Recovery meetings use

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Katherine on 20FEB2025

Living Free ·

2025/02/20

Katherine grew up as the eldest daughter of an alcoholic mum and became the surrogate parent in the family as her mum’s drinking progressed. She was exposed to alcohol early in life, started drinking around 12 or 13 years old but it was around 15 or 16 that she sought it out.Often drinking to blackout, Katherine regularly had to ask her friends what had happened the night before and frequently learnt of her aggressive and abusive behaviour whilst drunk, burning many close relationships. At 17 yo,

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Gamblers Anonymous - Tim on 13FEB2025

Living Free ·

2025/02/13

Tim shares his story of developing a gambling habit through underage gambling on poker machines as part of social activity with family and friends. He always had some anxiety and when he discovered alcohol relieved it his drinking began in earnest. Tim’s drinking and then drug use increased in his late teens when he went overseas and was working in hospitality. He had a nervous breakdown in his early twenties but was not yet ready to stop drinking until his life was a mess about 5 years later.Tim

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