This week on One For The Road I am joined by Kate Renninson. Kate’s story is a powerful reminder that recovery doesn’t always begin with rock bottom — sometimes, it begins with clarity.Growing up in a dysfunctional household, Kate experienced emotional harm from an early age. Raised by a narcissistic mother who took a dislike to her, she lived in a home marked by betrayal and instability, including her mother’s affair with her father’s brother. This environment shaped Kate’s sense of self and laid the groundwork for patterns she would carry into adulthood.Kate began drinking at around 14 years old, and alcohol quickly became a coping mechanism. For over a decade, drinking played a central role in her life, leading to many difficult and unsafe situations, frequent blackouts, and a growing disconnection from herself. When she became a mother, her drinking temporarily improved, but over time it crept back in through socially accepted “mummy wine” culture and nights out — which she often took much further than those around her.There was no dramatic rock bottom, although there were many moments that could have been. Instead, change came quietly but powerfully. At 50 years old, just six weeks after her birthday, Kate read a book that completely shifted her understanding of alcohol. Armed with new knowledge, she made the decision to quit drinking altogether in 2021 — and her life has continued to expand ever since.Now four years sober, Kate’s journey is defined by growth, courage, and joy. In 2023, having only been able to run 5K at the start of the year, she followed a training plan and went on to run the London Marathon — every single mile. She has travelled to Vietnam and Uganda, and even took a solo trip to Thailand to attend the Sober Awkward retreat, something she never would have imagined during her drinking years.Kate has since created her Detoxikated Instagram page, where she speaks openly about sobriety and helps change the perception of what a sober life can look like. She is deeply passionate about showing others that sobriety isn’t about restriction or loss — it’s about freedom, possibility, and becoming who you were always meant to be. Her story shows that it’s never too late to change, and that choosing sobriety can open doors far beyond anything alcohol ever promised.

https://www.instagram.com/detoxikated/

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/

or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/

Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice.

www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services

https://nacoa.org.uk/

Show producer- Daniella Attanasio-Martinez

Instagram - @TheDaniellaMartinez

https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellamartinez/

www.instagram.com/grownuphustle

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