Episode
Ep 112: Rethinking Alcohol: We Are Not Our Past
- Podcast
- The Big Drink Rethink
- Published
- Mar 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 859
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.thebigdrinkrethink.com/podcast
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Summary
Does our past define us? In this insightful episode, Anna Donaghey explores a quietly powerful truth: you are not fixed. You are not your history, your habits, or the coping mechanisms that once helped you survive. She guides you into the transformative space between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming. Uncovering how old beliefs and identities, especially around drinking, can unconsciously shape your choices and keep you attached to outdated versions of yourself. With a thoughtful blend of philosophy, neuroscience, and her signature warmth and honesty, Anna invites you to question what you’ve been carrying forward and whether it still fits. You’ll discover how identity is formed, why it can feel so solid and unchangeable, and how to gently step out of autopilot to choose again. Because no matter how long you’ve played a particular role, you are never required to keep playing it. If you’re ready for more possibility, more self-trust, and a kinder, braver relationship with change, this episode is for you. Here are the Highlights: 00:00 Welcome and the real power (and limits) of “that’s just who I am” 01:15 Why you are not your past 03:09 How roles keep us safe (and sometimes stuck) 04:05 We are in a state of constant change, even when we feel static 05:07 Modern neuroscience and why your brain is always rewiring 06:31 How cultures and families script our identities 07:25 Adaptation as survival when old strategies keep running 08:21 Unpicking whether you still need your old beliefs and habits 10:18 What’s coping, and what’s truly you? 11:08 The tragedy of forgetting we’ve already changed (and can do it again) 12:30 Small, sustainable reinvention versus. dramatic transformation 13:05 Freedom and responsibility, have agency over who you become. Anna’s book "What Are Yo…