Ep 49: Alcohol-Free & Thriving: The Power of Positivity with the Gavin Sisters

Anna welcomes the refreshingly candid Gavin sisters, Loretta and Sharon, who share how giving up alcohol transformed their lives and inspired their thriving wellness venture, The Detox Barn. We'll be discussing their incredible journey from battling health challenges and the pressures of a drinking culture, to adopting a plant-based lifestyle and running successful wellness retreats. They'll share their experiences, including how giving up alcohol has positively impacted not only their health but also their relationships and overall well-being.

Here are the highlights:

05:15 Adopted a plant-based diet, eliminated stress, and alcohol.

09:13 Started health retreats, The Detox Barn, which are a huge success.

12:17 Needed sobriety to regain strength for Edinburgh Fringe.

12:54 Enjoyed wine regularly, causing frequent hangovers.

20:35 Actions influence children more than words can.

23:51 Early drinking risks the development of a child's adult brain.

31:23 Transitioning to non-drinker unfolds like a ripple effect.

32:55 Core relationships unchanged; friends now drink less.

35:31 Being first inspires others to follow.

40:44 Community formed through shared experiences and challenges.

47:06 Our shows are character-driven and humorous.

If you’re loving the podcast and would like to give Anna a warm, fuzzy feeling of appreciation, then you can buy her a coffee:

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: thebeliefscoach.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annadonaghey

Instagram: instagram.com/bigdrinkrethink

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

About The Gavin Sisters:

Sharon and Lauretta are an acclaimed comedy double-act who have appeared in numerous TV and stage productions, developed sitcoms with comedy giants, and written plays for the West End.

Sharon and Lauretta went from red wine-drinking, Chinese take-out aficionados to thriving advocates of a plant-based lifestyle. Sharon's diagnosis of a rare autoimmune disease was a turning point that led them down a path of resilience, determination, and ultimately, transformation.

Sharon was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease just before her son was born over 9 years ago. She was covered from head to toe in a chronic rash, and at times was wheelchair-bound. On a concoction of very toxic drugs and steroids, she decided she needed to find another way to get better. Her sister was determined to do everything she could to help Sharon. 

As two single mums living together with very young children, they decided to do everything they could to get Sharon’s health back. After extensive research and a lot of trial and error, they transitioned to a plant-based diet rich in nutrient-dense foods, giving up alcohol and processed foods. Lauretta retrained as a natural vegan chef, focusing on nutrition. Sharon is now off all medication, feels better than ever, and is back running. Inspired by their journey, they decided they wanted to help others, and in 2018, they set up a wellness retreat called The Detox Barn. This has been featured in many publications as well as being picked by Conde Nast as one of the best wellness retreats in the Uk for 2023 & 2024.

They followed this by launching their first product, Funki Coffee, and their hugely successful podcast—The Gavin Sisters Wellness Show 

The Gavin Sisters Website: https://gavinsisters.co.uk/

The Detox Barn: https://gavinsisters.co.uk/pages/retreats-the-detox-barn

Mentioned in this episode:

🏆Please vote for The Big Drink Rethink in the ITV bCreator Awards 2025 1. Click on the link below 2. Pop in your email 3. Select I’M A SUBSCRIBER / FOLLOWER 4. Select CREATOR SHORTLIST 5. Hit SUBMIT YOUR VOTE 6. Scroll down to the Podcast bCreator category and vote for THE BIG DRINK RETHINK Here’s the link:🔗 https://www.bcreator.co.uk/awards/

https://www.thebeliefscoach.com/experiment