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		<title>Bottled Up: Help for families of alcoholics and those struggling with alcoholism</title>
		<link>https://www.bottled-up.com</link>
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		<itunes:keywords>alcoholism,alcoholic,families,self-care,surviving,quitting alcohol,living with an alcoholic,advice,help,problem drinker,children,depression,anxiety,change,relationships</itunes:keywords>
		<itunes:author>Bottled Up</itunes:author>
		<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[You're not alone. Get expert help, advice and support from leading experts in alcohol addiction]]></itunes:subtitle>
		<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Alcoholism and problem drinking is a destructive force, but help is at hand. Join experts Dr. John McMahon and Lou Lewis for kitchen table conversations offering help, advice, coping strategies and encouragement for both people who live with an alcoholic (problem drinker) and people who suffer from alcohol addiction. Alcohol can break up families and we know that living with an alcoholic partner is a stressful situation. At Bottled Up we teach people how to cope with and survive living with an alcoholic. We also help problem drinkers with their addiction with advice and strategies. We provide a program that was devised by Dr John McMahon, who was an alcoholic, and Lou Lewis, his wife, a trained relationship counsellor and who was married to an alcoholic for 29 years. The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com and email info@bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Alcoholism and problem drinking is a destructive force, but help is at hand. Join experts Dr. John McMahon and Lou Lewis for kitchen table conversations offering help, advice, coping strategies and encouragement for both people who live with an alcoholic (problem drinker) and people who suffer from alcohol addiction. Alcohol can break up families and we know that living with an alcoholic partner is a stressful situation. At Bottled Up we teach people how to cope with and survive living with an alcoholic. We also help problem drinkers with their addiction with advice and strategies. We provide a program that was devised by Dr John McMahon, who was an alcoholic, and Lou Lewis, his wife, a trained relationship counsellor and who was married to an alcoholic for 29 years. The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com and email info@bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
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				<title>Bottled Up: Help for families of alcoholics and those struggling with alcoholism</title>
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			<title>How to detach from a drinker - you MUST do this!</title>
			<itunes:title>How to detach from a drinker - you MUST do this!</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>18:12</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>One of the most important things you will ever do</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>59</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, Lou and John talk about how to detach from your drinker. Detachment is essential to leading a more stable, healthy and happy life, even if your drinker's state is not improving. John and Lou explain how “learned helplessness” can trap you, making change feel impossible, and why detaching from a drinker's behaviour — not the person — breaks that cycle. Detachment helps you step back from emotional chaos, protect your wellbeing, and regain control of your actions. By setting boundaries, changing patterns, and refusing to engage with destructive behaviour, you empower yourself. Crucially, they stress looking after yourself first—your health, dignity, and peace—so you can live freely, regardless of the drinker’s choices.</p><br><p>In the words of our producer, "detachment is the single most important thing I ever did".</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this episode, Lou and John talk about how to detach from your drinker. Detachment is essential to leading a more stable, healthy and happy life, even if your drinker's state is not improving. John and Lou explain how “learned helplessness” can trap you, making change feel impossible, and why detaching from a drinker's behaviour — not the person — breaks that cycle. Detachment helps you step back from emotional chaos, protect your wellbeing, and regain control of your actions. By setting boundaries, changing patterns, and refusing to engage with destructive behaviour, you empower yourself. Crucially, they stress looking after yourself first—your health, dignity, and peace—so you can live freely, regardless of the drinker’s choices.</p><br><p>In the words of our producer, "detachment is the single most important thing I ever did".</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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		<item>
			<title>You are not to blame!</title>
			<itunes:title>You are not to blame!</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>15:10</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[We've said it before, you have done nothing wrong – blame and shame when living with an alcoholic]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>58</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>We have said it before, but it needs repeating - you are not to blame for an alcoholic's drinking. Drinker's are adults who make their own decisions. But living with a problem drinker can cause you to search for answers, which result with you believing you are to blame. By blaming yourself you will probably feel ashamed – again you must not take on this burden. It destroys your confidence, your self-worth and can prevent you from living your life to the full. You have done nothing wrong.</p><br><p>In this episode join Lou and John as they discuss why people living with an alcoholic can feel so bad about themselves and how to fix this. You are not to blame and you should feel no shame!</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>We have said it before, but it needs repeating - you are not to blame for an alcoholic's drinking. Drinker's are adults who make their own decisions. But living with a problem drinker can cause you to search for answers, which result with you believing you are to blame. By blaming yourself you will probably feel ashamed – again you must not take on this burden. It destroys your confidence, your self-worth and can prevent you from living your life to the full. You have done nothing wrong.</p><br><p>In this episode join Lou and John as they discuss why people living with an alcoholic can feel so bad about themselves and how to fix this. You are not to blame and you should feel no shame!</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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			<title>Tough love. Let the negatives happen!</title>
			<itunes:title>Tough love. Let the negatives happen!</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 23:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>12:23</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[If a drinker doesn't have a reason to change, they won't]]></itunes:subtitle>
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			<itunes:episode>57</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Let the negatives happen. We've said it before, we'll say it again! It sounds counter intuitive to being a caring person who has spent a long time trying to cope with their drinker's addiction –&nbsp;and the all-consuming fallout. But if an alcoholic does not appreciate the negative consequences of their drinking then there is no reason for them to change. Think of it as tough love.</p><br><p>In this episode Lou and John talk through this strategy for change, based on scientific evidence, of how people change, and that by letting the negatives happen, you can influence change in an alcoholic.</p><br><p>Let the negatives happen is part of the acronym L.O.V.E. which can be heard in our previous podcast (episode 24) they're innovative and bold, and might take a little getting used to!</p><br><p>Let the negatives happen</p><p>Optimise time together</p><p>Value your drinker</p><p>Encourage change</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Let the negatives happen. We've said it before, we'll say it again! It sounds counter intuitive to being a caring person who has spent a long time trying to cope with their drinker's addiction –&nbsp;and the all-consuming fallout. But if an alcoholic does not appreciate the negative consequences of their drinking then there is no reason for them to change. Think of it as tough love.</p><br><p>In this episode Lou and John talk through this strategy for change, based on scientific evidence, of how people change, and that by letting the negatives happen, you can influence change in an alcoholic.</p><br><p>Let the negatives happen is part of the acronym L.O.V.E. which can be heard in our previous podcast (episode 24) they're innovative and bold, and might take a little getting used to!</p><br><p>Let the negatives happen</p><p>Optimise time together</p><p>Value your drinker</p><p>Encourage change</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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			<title>STOP Pleading with your drinker</title>
			<itunes:title>STOP Pleading with your drinker</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>11:28</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[In this series John and Lou look at how to deal with a problem drinker by stopping doing things that don't work]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>56</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>You're not doing anything wrong, but STOP PLEADING with a drinker. It won't work for you as it will leave you hurt and emotionally exhausted. Pleading also leaves the drinker feeling even more guilty. This can actually drive them to drink more. A drinker doesn't need reminding of how bad they are, but actually the potential they have to be a good person. IN any other circumstances your behaviours might work, but remember, you're pleading with a person who has an addiction.</p><br><p>In this new series Lou and John look at Stop Policing the drinker. One of the four Ps (Picking a fight, Punishing, Policing and Pleading). They do not work, so don't do them.</p><p>If your words aren't getting through to a drinker, you may well take action. Through anxiety this action often comes in the form of Policing the drinking. Searching for alcohol around the house? Every family member has probably done that! Negotiating with a drinker? You may well have done so – trying to limit the amount of alcohol in the house, or drunk in the pub. All your reactions and behaviour are entirely understandable, but, they do not work on the drinker, and they can leave you feeling tired, anxious, exhausted, hypervigilant, depressed, or hopeless. Policing doesn't work, so don't do it.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>You're not doing anything wrong, but STOP PLEADING with a drinker. It won't work for you as it will leave you hurt and emotionally exhausted. Pleading also leaves the drinker feeling even more guilty. This can actually drive them to drink more. A drinker doesn't need reminding of how bad they are, but actually the potential they have to be a good person. IN any other circumstances your behaviours might work, but remember, you're pleading with a person who has an addiction.</p><br><p>In this new series Lou and John look at Stop Policing the drinker. One of the four Ps (Picking a fight, Punishing, Policing and Pleading). They do not work, so don't do them.</p><p>If your words aren't getting through to a drinker, you may well take action. Through anxiety this action often comes in the form of Policing the drinking. Searching for alcohol around the house? Every family member has probably done that! Negotiating with a drinker? You may well have done so – trying to limit the amount of alcohol in the house, or drunk in the pub. All your reactions and behaviour are entirely understandable, but, they do not work on the drinker, and they can leave you feeling tired, anxious, exhausted, hypervigilant, depressed, or hopeless. Policing doesn't work, so don't do it.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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			<title>STOP Policing your drinker - how to deal with an alcoholic</title>
			<itunes:title>STOP Policing your drinker - how to deal with an alcoholic</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>8:29</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[In this new series Lou and John look at how to deal with a problem drinker by stopping doing things that don't work]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>55</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this new series Lou and John look at Stop Policing the drinker. One of the four Ps (Picking a fight, Punishing, Policing and Pleading). They do not work, so don't do them.</p><p>If your words aren't getting through to a drinker, you may well take action. Through anxiety this action often comes in the form of Policing the drinking. Searching for alcohol around the house? Every family member has probably done that! Negotiating with a drinker? You may well have done so – trying to limit the amount of alcohol in the house, or drunk in the pub. All your reactions and behaviour are entirely understandable, but, they do not work on the drinker, and they can leave you feeling tired, anxious, exhausted, hypervigilant, depressed, or hopeless. Policing doesn't work, so don't do it.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this new series Lou and John look at Stop Policing the drinker. One of the four Ps (Picking a fight, Punishing, Policing and Pleading). They do not work, so don't do them.</p><p>If your words aren't getting through to a drinker, you may well take action. Through anxiety this action often comes in the form of Policing the drinking. Searching for alcohol around the house? Every family member has probably done that! Negotiating with a drinker? You may well have done so – trying to limit the amount of alcohol in the house, or drunk in the pub. All your reactions and behaviour are entirely understandable, but, they do not work on the drinker, and they can leave you feeling tired, anxious, exhausted, hypervigilant, depressed, or hopeless. Policing doesn't work, so don't do it.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
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			<title>STOP Punishing the drinker - how to deal with an alcoholic</title>
			<itunes:title>STOP Punishing the drinker - how to deal with an alcoholic</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>6:37</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[A new series where we look at how to deal with a problem drinker by stopping doing things that don't work]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>54</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In a new series Lou and John look at Stop Punishing the drinker. It might be what you want to do and it is probably understandable! But, it will only cause an alcoholic to feel more ashamed and often assists them in justifying their drinking. Known as the four Ps, they are Picking a fight, Punishing, Policing and Pleading. They do not work, so don't do them.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In a new series Lou and John look at Stop Punishing the drinker. It might be what you want to do and it is probably understandable! But, it will only cause an alcoholic to feel more ashamed and often assists them in justifying their drinking. Known as the four Ps, they are Picking a fight, Punishing, Policing and Pleading. They do not work, so don't do them.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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			<title>STOP Picking a fight - how to deal with an alcoholic</title>
			<itunes:title>STOP Picking a fight - how to deal with an alcoholic</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>9:34</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[A new series where we look at how to deal with a problem drinker by stopping doing things that don't work]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>53</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this new series, Lou and John address the things you should never do with a drinker. First up, stop picking a fight with a problem drinker. You won't win, there could be unforeseen consequences for you and the drinker, and you will only feel worse about yourself.</p><br><p>A new series in which John and Lou talk about the stopping doing things that don't work. Known as the four Ps, they are Picking a fight, Punishing, Policing and Pleading. They do not work, so don't do them.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this new series, Lou and John address the things you should never do with a drinker. First up, stop picking a fight with a problem drinker. You won't win, there could be unforeseen consequences for you and the drinker, and you will only feel worse about yourself.</p><br><p>A new series in which John and Lou talk about the stopping doing things that don't work. Known as the four Ps, they are Picking a fight, Punishing, Policing and Pleading. They do not work, so don't do them.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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			<title>What I wish I had known - Recovery</title>
			<itunes:title>What I wish I had known - Recovery</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>13:56</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[I wouldn't mind having me as a friend]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>52</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode John talks to Lou about what he wishes he had known about the early stages of recovery. Lou and John explore John’s thirties as an “alcoholic motorway”: chaos everywhere, seemingly no exits, and denial hardened into identity. John recalls losing his marriage to drink, then ironically treating separation as permission to drink “like a gentleman” (he didn't). John shares the fear many problem drinkers hold—“If I stop, then what?”—believing sobriety would be empty despair, even that he’d “used up” his happiness. Early sobriety was hard, but support revealed life after alcohol. A turning point came when he thought, “I wouldn’t mind having me as a friend.” Recovery brought real freedom, purpose, adventure, and a new life.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this episode John talks to Lou about what he wishes he had known about the early stages of recovery. Lou and John explore John’s thirties as an “alcoholic motorway”: chaos everywhere, seemingly no exits, and denial hardened into identity. John recalls losing his marriage to drink, then ironically treating separation as permission to drink “like a gentleman” (he didn't). John shares the fear many problem drinkers hold—“If I stop, then what?”—believing sobriety would be empty despair, even that he’d “used up” his happiness. Early sobriety was hard, but support revealed life after alcohol. A turning point came when he thought, “I wouldn’t mind having me as a friend.” Recovery brought real freedom, purpose, adventure, and a new life.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
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			<title>What I wish I had known - the warning signs</title>
			<itunes:title>What I wish I had known - the warning signs</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>12:31</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>The warnings signs of alcohol addiction were there early on</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>51</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode of the series "What I wish I'd known", Lou talks to John as he reflects on the early indicators of his problem drinking. John describes how denial appeared as the belief he could change “tomorrow” — a tomorrow that never arrived. As his peers matured, he remained stuck, deliberately choosing environments where heavy drinking was normal. John explains how comparing himself to other problem drinkers and adjusting his surroundings didn’t just mask the problem — they actively suppressed insight and reinforced denial. John reflects on wishing he had recognised the moment when alcohol became the most important thing in his life — and acted upon it then.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this episode of the series "What I wish I'd known", Lou talks to John as he reflects on the early indicators of his problem drinking. John describes how denial appeared as the belief he could change “tomorrow” — a tomorrow that never arrived. As his peers matured, he remained stuck, deliberately choosing environments where heavy drinking was normal. John explains how comparing himself to other problem drinkers and adjusting his surroundings didn’t just mask the problem — they actively suppressed insight and reinforced denial. John reflects on wishing he had recognised the moment when alcohol became the most important thing in his life — and acted upon it then.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
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			<title>What I wish I had known - during my marriage</title>
			<itunes:title>What I wish I had known - during my marriage</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>16:38</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Help and guidance in a new series for those living with a problem drinker</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>50</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1770923441802-4a33ca53-e21b-4244-897d-4c276dc5e320.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode in our new series "What I Wish I Had Known", Lou and John reflect on being married to a problem drinker and the painful dance which often takes place between the spouse and their partner as they try to navigate addiction. Lou shares how appealing to her husband’s love often furthered his guilt deepening his shame and triggered further bingeing. John explains that addiction is less a binary choice between alcohol and a partner, and more about escaping emotional pain. They explore affirming the sober identity while hating the drink. Themes include boundaries, hope, shame, affirmation, identity, and routes to recovery.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this episode in our new series "What I Wish I Had Known", Lou and John reflect on being married to a problem drinker and the painful dance which often takes place between the spouse and their partner as they try to navigate addiction. Lou shares how appealing to her husband’s love often furthered his guilt deepening his shame and triggered further bingeing. John explains that addiction is less a binary choice between alcohol and a partner, and more about escaping emotional pain. They explore affirming the sober identity while hating the drink. Themes include boundaries, hope, shame, affirmation, identity, and routes to recovery.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>What I wish I had known - at the start of our relationship</title>
			<itunes:title>What I wish I had known - at the start of our relationship</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>9:36</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Help and guidance in a new series of podcasts for families and friends of problem drinkers</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>49</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode Lou talks with John and reflects on what she wishes she’d known at the start of her relationship with her drinker. Lou and John discuss how early signs of problem drinking can be overlooked when falling in love. They explain the importance of addressing problem drinking as soon as possible, and the early love you feel gives you rare leverage to set boundaries. This episode encourages listeners to recognise warning signs early and protect themselves from long-term emotional harm.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this episode Lou talks with John and reflects on what she wishes she’d known at the start of her relationship with her drinker. Lou and John discuss how early signs of problem drinking can be overlooked when falling in love. They explain the importance of addressing problem drinking as soon as possible, and the early love you feel gives you rare leverage to set boundaries. This episode encourages listeners to recognise warning signs early and protect themselves from long-term emotional harm.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Q&A - dignity, covering up, making excuses, condoning, drinkers taking responsibility]]></title>
			<itunes:title><![CDATA[Q&A - dignity, covering up, making excuses, condoning, drinkers taking responsibility]]></itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>21:20</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>qa-dignity-covering-up-making-excuses-condoning-drinkers-tak</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Lou and John answer your questions for those living with problem drinkers</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>48</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode John and Lou answer your questions. They look at the question of not covering up for your drinker, retaining dignity and not making excuses. They also explore accepting somebody’s alcoholism whilst not condoning it, influencing your drinker in a positive way, and problem drinkers taking responsibility for their actions and behaviour.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this episode John and Lou answer your questions. They look at the question of not covering up for your drinker, retaining dignity and not making excuses. They also explore accepting somebody’s alcoholism whilst not condoning it, influencing your drinker in a positive way, and problem drinkers taking responsibility for their actions and behaviour.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>No cloistered life - from drunk to doctor in a decade</title>
			<itunes:title>No cloistered life - from drunk to doctor in a decade</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>44:46</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>no-cloistered-life-from-drunk-to-doctor-in-a-decade</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[John's autobiography a inspirational story of surviving and thriving]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>47</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1769100499427-91811d2c-8936-4858-9dd0-f06a24e4d98e.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>You may know that John was an alcoholic for many years. It has had a profound effect on his life. Now sober for more than 40 years John has written his autobiography "No Cloistered Life". It's a remarkable story, funny, moving, insightful and hugely inspiring, going from "drunk to a doctor" in a decade.</p><br><p>No Cloistered Life is a memoir charting a course through addiction, recovery, and a search for meaning, against a backdrop of an aborted foray into priesthood, hippiedom, failed marriages, and a return to academia, a new found faith, and marriage.</p><br><p>You can buy John's story here": <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Cloistered-Life-John-McMahon/dp/1897913990/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HOO61MWAQJNQ&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m_PDTPlItSR70ndooUbxJ1svpkHbcmA0xnTbbsMTEks.EAAB3SpSH4Q9Co1micaOy2Hlzh9xeYfPtf7agL5m4oE&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=no+cloistered+life&amp;qid=1769092410&amp;sprefix=no+cloistered+life%2Caps%2C100&amp;sr=8-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Cloistered-Life-John-McMahon/dp/1897913990/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HOO61MWAQJNQ&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m_PDTPlItSR70ndooUbxJ1svpkHbcmA0xnTbbsMTEks.EAAB3SpSH4Q9Co1micaOy2Hlzh9xeYfPtf7agL5m4oE&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=no+cloistered+life&amp;qid=1769092410&amp;sprefix=no+cloistered+life%2Caps%2C100&amp;sr=8-1</a></p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>You may know that John was an alcoholic for many years. It has had a profound effect on his life. Now sober for more than 40 years John has written his autobiography "No Cloistered Life". It's a remarkable story, funny, moving, insightful and hugely inspiring, going from "drunk to a doctor" in a decade.</p><br><p>No Cloistered Life is a memoir charting a course through addiction, recovery, and a search for meaning, against a backdrop of an aborted foray into priesthood, hippiedom, failed marriages, and a return to academia, a new found faith, and marriage.</p><br><p>You can buy John's story here": <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Cloistered-Life-John-McMahon/dp/1897913990/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HOO61MWAQJNQ&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m_PDTPlItSR70ndooUbxJ1svpkHbcmA0xnTbbsMTEks.EAAB3SpSH4Q9Co1micaOy2Hlzh9xeYfPtf7agL5m4oE&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=no+cloistered+life&amp;qid=1769092410&amp;sprefix=no+cloistered+life%2Caps%2C100&amp;sr=8-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Cloistered-Life-John-McMahon/dp/1897913990/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HOO61MWAQJNQ&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.m_PDTPlItSR70ndooUbxJ1svpkHbcmA0xnTbbsMTEks.EAAB3SpSH4Q9Co1micaOy2Hlzh9xeYfPtf7agL5m4oE&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=no+cloistered+life&amp;qid=1769092410&amp;sprefix=no+cloistered+life%2Caps%2C100&amp;sr=8-1</a></p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Relapse - for families, friends, and drinkers</title>
			<itunes:title>Relapse - for families, friends, and drinkers</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>26:15</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>relapse</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>How to cope, how to get back on track, how to learn from a stumble</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>46</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1768747899725-88ace151-264c-47ec-8a9a-31de3ac3a08d.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Relapse is common. Whether you’re the family or friends of a problem drinker, or a person with an alcohol addiction, setbacks can be difficult to cope with. In this episode Lou and John talk about relapse, how to cope with them, how to look for the positives, and how you can learn from the setbacks, and progress is what you are looking for – not perfection.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Relapse is common. Whether you’re the family or friends of a problem drinker, or a person with an alcohol addiction, setbacks can be difficult to cope with. In this episode Lou and John talk about relapse, how to cope with them, how to look for the positives, and how you can learn from the setbacks, and progress is what you are looking for – not perfection.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Recovery for the drinker</title>
			<itunes:title>Recovery for the drinker</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>28:35</itunes:duration>
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			<link>https://bottled-up.com</link>
			<acast:episodeId>69617c9479fe7d55456c9d1b</acast:episodeId>
			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>recovery-for-the-drinker</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>An important listen for drinkers and family and friends</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>45</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode John and Lou look at recovery from the point of view of the drinker. It's an important listen for drinkers and family and friends. They consider the difficulties, the treatment and help available, the importance of maintaining recovery and keeping going when times are tough or when there is a relapse.</p><br><p>Start by stopping. That's what drinkers need to do to commence their recovery. It sounds simple in practice, but it is difficult. There may be many fault starts and difficulties along the way, but recovery from problem drinking is of course possible and thousands of people achieve this every year.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this episode John and Lou look at recovery from the point of view of the drinker. It's an important listen for drinkers and family and friends. They consider the difficulties, the treatment and help available, the importance of maintaining recovery and keeping going when times are tough or when there is a relapse.</p><br><p>Start by stopping. That's what drinkers need to do to commence their recovery. It sounds simple in practice, but it is difficult. There may be many fault starts and difficulties along the way, but recovery from problem drinking is of course possible and thousands of people achieve this every year.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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		<item>
			<title>Christmas Fallout</title>
			<itunes:title>Christmas Fallout</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>17:41</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Christmas is tough with a drinker - here's help and advice for the year to come]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>44</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Christmas with a problem drinker can be extremely difficult for a whole manner of different reasons. Whether you are experiencing your first Christmas with somebody who you think might have a problem with alcohol, or this is your umpteenth Christmas with a drinker, in this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help with the Christmas fallout and how you can improve your life in the year ahead.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Christmas with a problem drinker can be extremely difficult for a whole manner of different reasons. Whether you are experiencing your first Christmas with somebody who you think might have a problem with alcohol, or this is your umpteenth Christmas with a drinker, in this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help with the Christmas fallout and how you can improve your life in the year ahead.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Coping with Christmas</title>
			<itunes:title>Coping with Christmas</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:40:42 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>17:24</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Help, guidance and encouragement when coping with a drinker at Christmas</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>43</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Christmas is usually very difficult when you're having to deal with a drinker. The drinking may increase, the aggravation and stress may reach new levels, and when everybody is in a party mood, you might just want to hide away. In this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help you cope with Christmas.</p><br><p>Magical thinking or realistic expectations (manage your expectations!).</p><p>It's alright to be ambivalent about the festive season!</p><p>Negotiate on certain points.</p><p>If you've had enough of a party, leave.</p><p>Set boundaries.</p><p>Create buffers.</p><p>Find some peace.</p><p>Look after you.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Christmas is usually very difficult when you're having to deal with a drinker. The drinking may increase, the aggravation and stress may reach new levels, and when everybody is in a party mood, you might just want to hide away. In this episode Lou and John guide you through ways to help you cope with Christmas.</p><br><p>Magical thinking or realistic expectations (manage your expectations!).</p><p>It's alright to be ambivalent about the festive season!</p><p>Negotiate on certain points.</p><p>If you've had enough of a party, leave.</p><p>Set boundaries.</p><p>Create buffers.</p><p>Find some peace.</p><p>Look after you.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
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			<title><![CDATA[Q&A 2 with Lou and John]]></title>
			<itunes:title><![CDATA[Q&A 2 with Lou and John]]></itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>30:50</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>qa-2-with-lou-and-john</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Can I rebuild my relationship? Do non-alcoholic drinks help? What is grief in a relationship?</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>42</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1765651067177-0a13ca0d-50ac-45a3-b286-1e054be370d7.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Join Lou and John for a question and answer episode. Questions include: Is it possible to rebuild your relationship with your drinker? Are non-alcholic drinks a good idea? What is grief in a relationship?</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Join Lou and John for a question and answer episode. Questions include: Is it possible to rebuild your relationship with your drinker? Are non-alcholic drinks a good idea? What is grief in a relationship?</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol, Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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			<title>Motivation to change</title>
			<itunes:title>Motivation to change</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>24:04</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>People need motivation to stop drinking</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>41</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>People need motivation to stop drinking. But what motivates one person to quit alcohol, may not motivate another person. In this episode John and Lou discuss what motivates change, where you or your partner can find motivation to change and how to sustain the change which leads you to life without alcohol. With John's professional research, personal and professional anecdotes and observations, and a structured approach to change, this episode is essential for problem drinkers and those who have to deal with a problem drinker in understanding how to break the cycle of addiction.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>People need motivation to stop drinking. But what motivates one person to quit alcohol, may not motivate another person. In this episode John and Lou discuss what motivates change, where you or your partner can find motivation to change and how to sustain the change which leads you to life without alcohol. With John's professional research, personal and professional anecdotes and observations, and a structured approach to change, this episode is essential for problem drinkers and those who have to deal with a problem drinker in understanding how to break the cycle of addiction.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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			<title>Assessing your drinking</title>
			<itunes:title>Assessing your drinking</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>22:02</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[How to assess your own drinking or somebody else's]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>40</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>If you have come to this podcast concerned about your drinking, or that of somebody else, well done! It's a difficult step to take and should be applauded! In this episode John and Lou talk about how to assess your own drinking with four criteria – wellbeing, wealth, welcome (are you welcome?), and welfare. This assessment is something you can make personal to you, and is an important step in making changes that may help you and loved ones.</p><br><p>We understand that it is difficult for people to assess drinking. But if you, or your partner, can assess their own drinking, then a fundamental step is taken towards addressing any problems with alcohol.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>If you have come to this podcast concerned about your drinking, or that of somebody else, well done! It's a difficult step to take and should be applauded! In this episode John and Lou talk about how to assess your own drinking with four criteria – wellbeing, wealth, welcome (are you welcome?), and welfare. This assessment is something you can make personal to you, and is an important step in making changes that may help you and loved ones.</p><br><p>We understand that it is difficult for people to assess drinking. But if you, or your partner, can assess their own drinking, then a fundamental step is taken towards addressing any problems with alcohol.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled Up can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Is there a problem with alcohol?</title>
			<itunes:title>Is there a problem with alcohol?</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>33:19</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Is there a drink problem? Understand the signs and look to put it right.</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>39</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Do you think there is a problem with alcohol? It may be a question you are asking yourself, or somebody you know or live with is struggling with alcohol and it is affecting you and the family. In this episode Lou and John look at the signs and symptoms associated with alcohol problems, how to assess a possible problem and first steps to address problem drinking.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled UP can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><br><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Do you think there is a problem with alcohol? It may be a question you are asking yourself, or somebody you know or live with is struggling with alcohol and it is affecting you and the family. In this episode Lou and John look at the signs and symptoms associated with alcohol problems, how to assess a possible problem and first steps to address problem drinking.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled UP can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><br><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>How to reduce your drinking</title>
			<itunes:title>How to reduce your drinking</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>25:45</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Many people want to reduce their drinking - here is how</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>38</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1763026418561-b9555588-5497-451e-84c1-adcd1bdcae01.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Many people want to reduce their drinking and there is no doubt that it will be beneficial to you in many ways. Whether you're living with an alcoholic, a heavy drinker, or want to moderate your behaviour, in this podcast John and Lou talk through what you need to consider when reducing your drinking and methods you may want to consider.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled UP can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><br><p><br></p><br><p><br></p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Many people want to reduce their drinking and there is no doubt that it will be beneficial to you in many ways. Whether you're living with an alcoholic, a heavy drinker, or want to moderate your behaviour, in this podcast John and Lou talk through what you need to consider when reducing your drinking and methods you may want to consider.</p><br><p>Whether you're a person struggling with an alcoholic in your life, or a person struggling with alcohol Bottled UP can help. For more advice, guidance, and 1 to 1 counselling and information on the services Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><br><p><br></p><br><p><br></p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Controlled Drinking - can it work?</title>
			<itunes:title>Controlled Drinking - can it work?</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>18:37</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Controlled drinking doesn't work for everybody, but it can be a solution for some drinkers]]></itunes:subtitle>
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			<itunes:episode>37</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>This podcast is for the family and friends of problem drinkers and also those who are concerned with their own drinking. Controlled drinking can be a solution for some drinkers. It requires discipline and breaking the habit. In this episode John outlines what is has to be done to attempt controlled drinking. Please understand controlled drinking does not work for everybody.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>This podcast is for the family and friends of problem drinkers and also those who are concerned with their own drinking. Controlled drinking can be a solution for some drinkers. It requires discipline and breaking the habit. In this episode John outlines what is has to be done to attempt controlled drinking. Please understand controlled drinking does not work for everybody.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Q&A with Lou and John]]></title>
			<itunes:title><![CDATA[Q&A with Lou and John]]></itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 03 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>22:49</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeId>69076b3d3906f8011a499d1f</acast:episodeId>
			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>qa-with-lou-and-john</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Lou and John answer listeners questions on the many problems related to living or dealing with an alcoholic</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>36</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1762093382293-dbee905e-7f31-49f2-8a89-343e56c3b279.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Lou and John answer listeners questions and concerns. Topics answered include getting your social life back, how to ignore your drinker undermining your progress and trying to talk to an alcoholic who finds the subject very difficult to confront. If you have a question for Lou and John please email john@bottled-up.com with the title "Podcast question".</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Lou and John answer listeners questions and concerns. Topics answered include getting your social life back, how to ignore your drinker undermining your progress and trying to talk to an alcoholic who finds the subject very difficult to confront. If you have a question for Lou and John please email john@bottled-up.com with the title "Podcast question".</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - The Reason I Stopped Drinking</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - The Reason I Stopped Drinking</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:48:51 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>7:19</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeId>690334871e6d5f214e765e30</acast:episodeId>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-the-reason-i-stopped-drinking</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>It was the mirror, not the warning signs that stopped John drinking</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>35</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1761817066641-dc9f70ae-1fea-40c1-9487-7897dcb851a6.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>For John it was looking in the mirror and seeing what he had become which finally stopped him drinking.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>For John it was looking in the mirror and seeing what he had become which finally stopped him drinking.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[An Alcoholic's Story]]></title>
			<itunes:title><![CDATA[An Alcoholic's Story]]></itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>41:46</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeId>68fcf64b8a5d09ce06e1b3ed</acast:episodeId>
			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>an-alcoholics-story</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Learn how an alcoholic thinks and feels as John talks about his time struggling with alcohol addiction</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>34</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1761408072639-5ad2fef1-c638-496b-8cb1-5453d35412e3.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode we learn how an alcoholic may think and feel, and their struggles, as John talks openly about his many years addicted to alcohol. Of course every recovering alcoholic will cite different causes and reasons for their addiction, but through John and Lou’s conversation you can understand more about an alcoholic’s mindset, their behaviour and find common threads from which you may be able to have a greater insight.</p><br><p>John has been sober for more than forty years, his story is remarkable and inspiring as he went, ”from a drunk to a doctor in a decade”. </p><br><p>There is always hope, and John’s story is testament to the power of hope, self-reflection, and change.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this episode we learn how an alcoholic may think and feel, and their struggles, as John talks openly about his many years addicted to alcohol. Of course every recovering alcoholic will cite different causes and reasons for their addiction, but through John and Lou’s conversation you can understand more about an alcoholic’s mindset, their behaviour and find common threads from which you may be able to have a greater insight.</p><br><p>John has been sober for more than forty years, his story is remarkable and inspiring as he went, ”from a drunk to a doctor in a decade”. </p><br><p>There is always hope, and John’s story is testament to the power of hope, self-reflection, and change.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - Relapse during recovery</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - Relapse during recovery</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>3:01</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-relapse-during-recovery</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Relapse is unfortunate but the drinker can learn from it, improving their chances of recovery</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>33</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1761154611078-67bc6365-5510-4368-afbe-a5cf2bff30bd.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Relapse can happen. But the alcoholic can learn from it and actually improve their chances of recovery.</p><br><p>It took John two years to get sober. Here he talks about relapse and the process of recovery – it's extremely useful for both families and problem drinkers.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Relapse can happen. But the alcoholic can learn from it and actually improve their chances of recovery.</p><br><p>It took John two years to get sober. Here he talks about relapse and the process of recovery – it's extremely useful for both families and problem drinkers.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Recovery - what next?</title>
			<itunes:title>Recovery - what next?</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>35:22</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>recovery-what-next</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Recovery isn't straight forward, for anybody. What to expect. Why you feel the way you do. How to build for the future.]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>32</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this episode Lou and John talk about the complicated road of recovery. The alcoholic has stopped drinking. This is a big moment. It is hopefully the end of so many painful moments which have taken their toll on you. But recovery can be the end, but it can also be the start. It is a delicate moment in which both the drinker and the family rediscover who they are, how they have changed, how they relate to each other and how they heal.</p><br><p>It is a time of vulnerability - you may be reluctant to feel hopeful, you may hold on to anxiety, you may suffer real difficulties as hidden depression, worry, or changed expectations (all wrapped up in hyper-vigilance) swirl around. This is not unusual and do not be hard on yourself if you have such feelings, seek help and guidance if you need to.</p><br><p>For more information go to www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>NOTE: Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this episode Lou and John talk about the complicated road of recovery. The alcoholic has stopped drinking. This is a big moment. It is hopefully the end of so many painful moments which have taken their toll on you. But recovery can be the end, but it can also be the start. It is a delicate moment in which both the drinker and the family rediscover who they are, how they have changed, how they relate to each other and how they heal.</p><br><p>It is a time of vulnerability - you may be reluctant to feel hopeful, you may hold on to anxiety, you may suffer real difficulties as hidden depression, worry, or changed expectations (all wrapped up in hyper-vigilance) swirl around. This is not unusual and do not be hard on yourself if you have such feelings, seek help and guidance if you need to.</p><br><p>For more information go to www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>NOTE: Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - The big stick in an Intervention</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - The big stick in an Intervention</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:46:41 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>2:15</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-the-big-stick</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>The Intervention needs to be the big stick (not a carrot)</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>31</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1760128852315-a4d8f165-2292-44e9-a4bb-f55278910080.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>When encouraging change there needs to be carrot and stick. The Intervention is the ultimate stick. There have to be consequences for the alcoholic if they do not respond to the intervention. Plan the intervention carefully and be prepared to stick to the consequences the alcoholic will face if they do not change.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>When encouraging change there needs to be carrot and stick. The Intervention is the ultimate stick. There have to be consequences for the alcoholic if they do not respond to the intervention. Plan the intervention carefully and be prepared to stick to the consequences the alcoholic will face if they do not change.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Staging an Intervention</title>
			<itunes:title>Staging an Intervention</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>21:19</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>staging-an-intervention</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>How to plan and stage an intervention to create the best chance for success</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>30</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1759872767447-ce423efc-c537-484e-918c-f67a685a8da1.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Are you considering staging an intervention? Then it is important to plan the intervention properly. There is a lot to consider and if done correctly there is a good chance that the intervention will be successful. But, if you are not able to follow through on what is required you may find that you are disappointed with the results of your efforts.</p><br><p>We don't want you to go through the pain and trauma of your heartfelt efforts not being effective, and so in this episode Lou and John outline the process of staging an intervention, planning the intervention properly, what you will need to know, what you will need to do, and who you may need to call upon to give your intervention the best chance of succeeding.</p><br><p>You can find more on the Intervention course at www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>NOTE: Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers. </p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Are you considering staging an intervention? Then it is important to plan the intervention properly. There is a lot to consider and if done correctly there is a good chance that the intervention will be successful. But, if you are not able to follow through on what is required you may find that you are disappointed with the results of your efforts.</p><br><p>We don't want you to go through the pain and trauma of your heartfelt efforts not being effective, and so in this episode Lou and John outline the process of staging an intervention, planning the intervention properly, what you will need to know, what you will need to do, and who you may need to call upon to give your intervention the best chance of succeeding.</p><br><p>You can find more on the Intervention course at www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>NOTE: Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers. </p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - Tools for talking</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - Tools for talking</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>4:12</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-tools-for-talking</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>When talking to a drinker you need to be sure of yourself – use our S.H.A.R.E. tool </itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>29</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Talking to an alcoholic about your concerns and the problems they are causing is often very difficult. Using our S.H.A.R.E. tool you can create an inventory which grounds your conversation in facts, not emotions. This will give you a solid foundation from which to talk to the alcoholic and try to encourage them to make changes .</p><br><p>Creating change when living with an alcoholic can be very difficult. With the S.H.A.R.E. tool you can make a plan by assessing your Safety, Health, Ambition, Relationships and Environment. Once you have a secure assessment of where you find yourself, you will find it easier to identify and focus on what needs to change and how. In this episode Lou and John discuss how assessing your Safety, Health, Ambitions, Relationships and Environment will make you better understand where you find yourself and give you encouragement and solid ground going forward.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Talking to an alcoholic about your concerns and the problems they are causing is often very difficult. Using our S.H.A.R.E. tool you can create an inventory which grounds your conversation in facts, not emotions. This will give you a solid foundation from which to talk to the alcoholic and try to encourage them to make changes .</p><br><p>Creating change when living with an alcoholic can be very difficult. With the S.H.A.R.E. tool you can make a plan by assessing your Safety, Health, Ambition, Relationships and Environment. Once you have a secure assessment of where you find yourself, you will find it easier to identify and focus on what needs to change and how. In this episode Lou and John discuss how assessing your Safety, Health, Ambitions, Relationships and Environment will make you better understand where you find yourself and give you encouragement and solid ground going forward.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Make a plan for change – use S.H.A.R.E.</title>
			<itunes:title>Make a plan for change – use S.H.A.R.E.</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>33:00</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>make-a-plan-for-change-with-share</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Identify the issues with our S.H.A.R.E. tool and then create change</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>28</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Creating change when living with an alcoholic can be very difficult. With the S.H.A.R.E. tool you can make a plan by assessing your Safety, Health, Ambition, Relationships and Environment. Once you have a secure assessment of where you find yourself, you will find it easier to identify and focus on what needs to change and how. In this episode Lou and John discuss how assessing your Safety, Health, Ambitions, Relationships and Environment will make you better understand where you find yourself and give you encouragement and solid ground going forward.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Creating change when living with an alcoholic can be very difficult. With the S.H.A.R.E. tool you can make a plan by assessing your Safety, Health, Ambition, Relationships and Environment. Once you have a secure assessment of where you find yourself, you will find it easier to identify and focus on what needs to change and how. In this episode Lou and John discuss how assessing your Safety, Health, Ambitions, Relationships and Environment will make you better understand where you find yourself and give you encouragement and solid ground going forward.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been sober for over 40 years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional counsellor and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of the difficulties of living with problem drinkers.</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - There are no rules when making decisions living with an alcoholic</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - There are no rules when making decisions living with an alcoholic</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>3:01</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-there-are-no-rules</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[You're often living in almost impossible circumstances - don't set yourself rules which are not in your best interest]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>27</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic can often seem impossible. There can be expectations we, or others, put upon us, which can do you harm because you feel you have to follow them. But, there are no rules, you are living in exceptional circumstances, whatever the decisions you take will be difficult and entirely understandable. You need to make decisions which you believe to be in your interest, which look after you and your children and family.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic can often seem impossible. There can be expectations we, or others, put upon us, which can do you harm because you feel you have to follow them. But, there are no rules, you are living in exceptional circumstances, whatever the decisions you take will be difficult and entirely understandable. You need to make decisions which you believe to be in your interest, which look after you and your children and family.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[A parent's experience living with an alcoholic]]></title>
			<itunes:title><![CDATA[A parent's experience living with an alcoholic]]></itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>32:07</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>a-parents-experience-living-with-an-alcoholic</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>What one parent experienced and what they learned</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>26</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>As a parent, living with an alcoholic is extremely difficult. You're constantly on edge, protecting your children and trying to hold a family together, as you and your children live through trauma and make sense of what is going on. Relationships with the alcoholic will suffer and the reactions of you and your children are entirely understandable. In this podcast Lou talks about her experience as a parent, living with her first husband who was an alcoholic. As Lou says, this is not a guide as to what to do - far from it - this is her experience, her reflections, and what she has learnt.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>As a parent, living with an alcoholic is extremely difficult. You're constantly on edge, protecting your children and trying to hold a family together, as you and your children live through trauma and make sense of what is going on. Relationships with the alcoholic will suffer and the reactions of you and your children are entirely understandable. In this podcast Lou talks about her experience as a parent, living with her first husband who was an alcoholic. As Lou says, this is not a guide as to what to do - far from it - this is her experience, her reflections, and what she has learnt.</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - Dinner Is In The Bin...</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - Dinner Is In The Bin...</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:36:55 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>7:28</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-dinner-is-in-the-bin</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Take control, set boundaries, create change</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>25</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>You might not actually decide to throw dinner in the bin! But it's indicative of setting boundaries to create changes in behaviour. Change in an alcoholic can happen, but there has to be both carrot and stick. By estabishing boundaries and expectations you can create change. What start as small ripples can become waves. </p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>You might not actually decide to throw dinner in the bin! But it's indicative of setting boundaries to create changes in behaviour. Change in an alcoholic can happen, but there has to be both carrot and stick. By estabishing boundaries and expectations you can create change. What start as small ripples can become waves. </p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Strategies for change - L.O.V.E.</title>
			<itunes:title>Strategies for change - L.O.V.E.</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>38:36</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>strategies-for-change-love</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Four essential strategies to change an alcoholic's behaviour]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>24</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1758402988064-e190b7b0-a1f5-47d8-88ef-0ed54d7a9b15.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>If there is no reason or incentive to change, alcoholics will continue to drink. In this essential episode Lou and John talk through four strategies based on scientific evidence of how people change, and provide you with practical ways that you can influence change in an alcoholic. Under the acronym L.O.V.E. they're innovative and bold, and might take a little getting used to!</p><br><p>Let the negatives happen</p><p>Optimise time together</p><p>Value your drinker</p><p>Encourage change</p><br><p>If you live with a problem drinker, then you have almost certainly tried many different ways to get your drinker to change, and again almost certainly, none of them have worked the way you hoped they would!</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>If there is no reason or incentive to change, alcoholics will continue to drink. In this essential episode Lou and John talk through four strategies based on scientific evidence of how people change, and provide you with practical ways that you can influence change in an alcoholic. Under the acronym L.O.V.E. they're innovative and bold, and might take a little getting used to!</p><br><p>Let the negatives happen</p><p>Optimise time together</p><p>Value your drinker</p><p>Encourage change</p><br><p>If you live with a problem drinker, then you have almost certainly tried many different ways to get your drinker to change, and again almost certainly, none of them have worked the way you hoped they would!</p><br><p>Please be very clear that, at Bottled Up we strongly advise people not to remain in violent or abusive relationships. We understand fully that in many cases circumstances can become untenable. We discuss this fully in our Podcast "Should I Stay or Should I Go".</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - You make the decisions, not alcohol</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - You make the decisions, not alcohol</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>4:03</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-you-make-the-decisions-not-alcohol</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Don't react to the alcohol, make decisions which empower you to be your real self]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>23</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1758131324635-4c9f28d8-de39-4943-92f7-fe20232e40dc.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Don't let alcohol make the decisions. You can make decisions which bring back who you really are, in doing so, you will create positive change for you.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Don't let alcohol make the decisions. You can make decisions which bring back who you really are, in doing so, you will create positive change for you.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[The hidden struggles - Lou's life with an alcoholic]]></title>
			<itunes:title><![CDATA[The hidden struggles - Lou's life with an alcoholic]]></itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>33:35</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>the-hidden-struggles-lous-life-with-an-alcoholic</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[You're not alone - Lou's story of heartache, pain, love and lessons learned]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>22</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this moving episode, you may well recognise much of Lou's story in your own life –&nbsp;the pain, heartache, disappointment, frustration, anger and anxiety –&nbsp;but also the hope and the love. Through these incredibly difficult times Lou navigated family life for 27 years, bringing up two children, whilst living with a binge drinker. Lou talks with John of first realising her husband had an alcohol problem, the difficulties in coping, the strategies she developed, and reflects on what she learned and where she finds herself today. Her resilience, grace, insight and compassion is inspiring.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this moving episode, you may well recognise much of Lou's story in your own life –&nbsp;the pain, heartache, disappointment, frustration, anger and anxiety –&nbsp;but also the hope and the love. Through these incredibly difficult times Lou navigated family life for 27 years, bringing up two children, whilst living with a binge drinker. Lou talks with John of first realising her husband had an alcohol problem, the difficulties in coping, the strategies she developed, and reflects on what she learned and where she finds herself today. Her resilience, grace, insight and compassion is inspiring.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Quick Take - You're Not Powerless]]></title>
			<itunes:title><![CDATA[Quick Take - You're Not Powerless]]></itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>3:50</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-youre-not-powerless</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>You can create change to empower yourself</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>21</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Empower yourself. Know that you are not powerless. You are not helpless. Whilst you can't make a person change, you can take control of the circumstances which bring about change in an alcoholic. </p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Empower yourself. Know that you are not powerless. You are not helpless. Whilst you can't make a person change, you can take control of the circumstances which bring about change in an alcoholic. </p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Empower Yourself</title>
			<itunes:title>Empower Yourself</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>25:17</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>empower-yourself</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>You are not helpless, you can empower yourself and take control</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>20</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Empower yourself when living with an alcoholic. Take control by emotionally detaching, establishing clear expectations and consequences. These actions will hope create change. Join Lou and John for a conversation as they talk about how to empower yourself through detaching and taking control.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Empower yourself when living with an alcoholic. Take control by emotionally detaching, establishing clear expectations and consequences. These actions will hope create change. Join Lou and John for a conversation as they talk about how to empower yourself through detaching and taking control.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - Breaking Point?</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - Breaking Point?</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>3:32</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-breaking-point</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Your body may be telling you, you have had enough</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>19</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Your body and mind may be telling you, you have had had enough. Emotions and their physical symptoms are signs you need to look after yourself and you may be at breaking point. It is essential you look after yourself, before trying to look after anybody else.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Your body and mind may be telling you, you have had had enough. Emotions and their physical symptoms are signs you need to look after yourself and you may be at breaking point. It is essential you look after yourself, before trying to look after anybody else.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Part 2 - Surviving the emotional rollercoaster</title>
			<itunes:title>Part 2 - Surviving the emotional rollercoaster</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>33:53</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>part-2-surviving-the-emotional-rollercoaster</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Help, advice and guidance for when you experience anxiety, anger, loneliness or depression</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>18</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1756572429697-a94316d7-1fc6-4773-bddc-deb8e636ea95.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic sometimes seems impossible. You will experience so many different emotions, hope, anxiety, anger, and depression. Join Lou and John for a conversation as they talk about the emotions you experience, how to handle them, and how to live a full life.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic sometimes seems impossible. You will experience so many different emotions, hope, anxiety, anger, and depression. Join Lou and John for a conversation as they talk about the emotions you experience, how to handle them, and how to live a full life.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - Use anger as fuel for change</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - Use anger as fuel for change</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>2:28</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
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			<acast:episodeId>68a5e08273bf5b62980501fb</acast:episodeId>
			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-use-anger-as-fuel-for-change</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[You will get angry, that's fine, now use it to create change for the better]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>17</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>You will get angry, it's natural and it's legitimate. You must not be hard on yourself if you do get angry, it's what you do with that anger that matters. Lou suggests to use anger as fuel for change. Turn your negative into a positive, so you can become more in control of your emotions and live a better life as you find your way through very difficult circumstances.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>You will get angry, it's natural and it's legitimate. You must not be hard on yourself if you do get angry, it's what you do with that anger that matters. Lou suggests to use anger as fuel for change. Turn your negative into a positive, so you can become more in control of your emotions and live a better life as you find your way through very difficult circumstances.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Part 1 - Surviving the emotional rollercoaster</title>
			<itunes:title>Part 1 - Surviving the emotional rollercoaster</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>33:37</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>surviving-the-emotional-rollercoaster-part-1</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>When you experience anxiety, anger or depression, you need help, advice, and guidance</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>16</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic is very difficult and sometimes feels impossible. You must not feel bad about yourself, but it is likely you may experience so many different emotions, hope, anxiety, anger, and depression. These emotions are entirely understandable, but they can be destructive. Join Lou and John for a conversation as they talk about the emotions you experience, how to handle them, and how to live a full life.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic is very difficult and sometimes feels impossible. You must not feel bad about yourself, but it is likely you may experience so many different emotions, hope, anxiety, anger, and depression. These emotions are entirely understandable, but they can be destructive. Join Lou and John for a conversation as they talk about the emotions you experience, how to handle them, and how to live a full life.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - Embrace Change</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - Embrace Change</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>3:30</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-embrace-change</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Use change as a tool</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>15</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>When you make changes that benefit you, it can prompt changes in your drinker. Lead the dance, don't follow.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>When you make changes that benefit you, it can prompt changes in your drinker. Lead the dance, don't follow.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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		<item>
			<title>Take Care of Yourself</title>
			<itunes:title>Take Care of Yourself</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>16:36</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>take-care-of-yourself</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Learn to look after you when living with an alcoholic</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>14</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>When living with an alcoholic you're so concerned about helping your drinker, it doesn't always occur to you that you also need help. You must take care of yourself. Join Lou and John as they talk about the ways you can look after yourself and create change. Start doing the things you like to do once again. Turn what might be difficult moments into opportunities. Look after you. This will create a change of the dynamic in your home. The change can prompt your drinker into also making changes.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>When living with an alcoholic you're so concerned about helping your drinker, it doesn't always occur to you that you also need help. You must take care of yourself. Join Lou and John as they talk about the ways you can look after yourself and create change. Start doing the things you like to do once again. Turn what might be difficult moments into opportunities. Look after you. This will create a change of the dynamic in your home. The change can prompt your drinker into also making changes.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - Talk about it</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - Talk about it</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>6:04</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-talk-about-it</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Get rid of the guilt and shame by talking about it</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>13</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Many people don't talk about their situation of living with an alcoholic. By talking to other people, we get rid of the stigma. You are not at fault. Alcoholics are not children. They make their own decisions. Don't take on the blame, the shame, and the guilt. Talk to people and you will start to feel better.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Many people don't talk about their situation of living with an alcoholic. By talking to other people, we get rid of the stigma. You are not at fault. Alcoholics are not children. They make their own decisions. Don't take on the blame, the shame, and the guilt. Talk to people and you will start to feel better.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Is it my fault?</title>
			<itunes:title>Is it my fault?</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 11 Aug 2025 05:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>21:17</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:showId>6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a</acast:showId>
			<acast:episodeUrl>is-it-my-fault</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Tackling blame and shame with an alcoholic partner</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>12</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic is extremely stressful. Not only are you having to cope with the alcoholic's behaviour, you can also feel very guilty. You can start to believe that your situation is your fault, you blame yourself and you can feel ashamed. You are not to blame, you should not feel shame, you should not feel guilty. In this episode join Lou and John as they discuss why people living with an alcoholic can feel so bad about themselves and how to fix this – as they say NO! IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT!</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic is extremely stressful. Not only are you having to cope with the alcoholic's behaviour, you can also feel very guilty. You can start to believe that your situation is your fault, you blame yourself and you can feel ashamed. You are not to blame, you should not feel shame, you should not feel guilty. In this episode join Lou and John as they discuss why people living with an alcoholic can feel so bad about themselves and how to fix this – as they say NO! IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT!</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - The Patience of a Saint</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - The Patience of a Saint</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>6:10</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-the-patience-of-a-saint</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Living with an alcoholic can seem impossible STOP doing things that make it more difficult</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>11</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1754496810621-8e11227f-ead7-4d8e-a809-9d64bb390b99.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic can seem impossible. All your natural, and completely justified, reactions to their behaviour don't seem to work. Why? Because you're not just talking to somebody you love, you're also talking to their addiction. Learn how to change what you do so you can make progress.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Living with an alcoholic can seem impossible. All your natural, and completely justified, reactions to their behaviour don't seem to work. Why? Because you're not just talking to somebody you love, you're also talking to their addiction. Learn how to change what you do so you can make progress.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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			<title>Struggling with an alcoholic - STOP doing these things</title>
			<itunes:title>Struggling with an alcoholic - STOP doing these things</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 04 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>24:42</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>stop-doing-things-that-dont-work</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Help for you when living with an alcoholic</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>10</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>This episode is essential for anybody living with an alcoholic. Lou and John talk about four things you must stop doing to make your life with an alcoholic better. </p><p>Stop Picking a fight, Stop Punishing, Stop Policing, Stop Pleading. They call them the 4 Ps and they will help change your life.</p><br><p>In this revealing and moving episode Lou and John draw on all their combined experience of living with an alcoholic and being a problem drinker to encourage you to Stop doing things which do not work.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>This episode is essential for anybody living with an alcoholic. Lou and John talk about four things you must stop doing to make your life with an alcoholic better. </p><p>Stop Picking a fight, Stop Punishing, Stop Policing, Stop Pleading. They call them the 4 Ps and they will help change your life.</p><br><p>In this revealing and moving episode Lou and John draw on all their combined experience of living with an alcoholic and being a problem drinker to encourage you to Stop doing things which do not work.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - A Friend Like Me</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - A Friend Like Me</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>2:05</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-a-friend-like-me</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>The moment an alcoholic has a breakthrough</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>bonus</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>9</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Shortly after getting sober, John had a breakthrough. It was the road to recovery –&nbsp;recovery from alcoholism and recovering who he really was.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Shortly after getting sober, John had a breakthrough. It was the road to recovery –&nbsp;recovery from alcoholism and recovering who he really was.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Hope - for you and the alcoholic</title>
			<itunes:title>Hope - for you and the alcoholic</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jul 2025 06:50:55 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>31:17</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>hope</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>There is always hope, for you and the alcoholic</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>8</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1753453984137-aafb128f-a1fd-46b8-acb6-853071a4cf74.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Hope can sometimes seem very far away, or so close that the thought of it sometimes seems to good to be true. But there is hope, real hope. It is there in the thousands of people who are in recovery in the UK, seeking to change and heal themselves and their relationships. Join John and Lou for a kitchen table conversation as they talk about hope. There is hope to be found in both Lou's and John's different stories of dealing with addiction – Lou as the wife of a problem drinker, and John as a recovering alcoholic. In this episode you will find encouragement, smart advice, and inspiration. We understand how you feel, but it's worth holding on to the notion that it can take a long time for something to suddenly change.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Hope can sometimes seem very far away, or so close that the thought of it sometimes seems to good to be true. But there is hope, real hope. It is there in the thousands of people who are in recovery in the UK, seeking to change and heal themselves and their relationships. Join John and Lou for a kitchen table conversation as they talk about hope. There is hope to be found in both Lou's and John's different stories of dealing with addiction – Lou as the wife of a problem drinker, and John as a recovering alcoholic. In this episode you will find encouragement, smart advice, and inspiration. We understand how you feel, but it's worth holding on to the notion that it can take a long time for something to suddenly change.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - Alcohol is the missing piece of the jigsaw</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - Alcohol is the missing piece of the jigsaw</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>2:18</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-alcohol-is-the-missing-piece-of-the-jigsaw</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>For an alcoholic, alcohol is a help, not a hindrance</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>bonus</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>7</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Alcohol is the missing piece of the jigsaw for many alcoholics. In this clip from episode 3, John talks about how alcohol gave him "liquid personality" and it felt like the bit of him that "god left out". Lou and John also talk about the importance of stopping drinking before addressing personal issues - because alcohol is a mind-altering drug.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Alcohol is the missing piece of the jigsaw for many alcoholics. In this clip from episode 3, John talks about how alcohol gave him "liquid personality" and it felt like the bit of him that "god left out". Lou and John also talk about the importance of stopping drinking before addressing personal issues - because alcohol is a mind-altering drug.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Why can't alcoholics recognise the problem?]]></title>
			<itunes:title><![CDATA[Why can't alcoholics recognise the problem?]]></itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>34:08</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>why-cant-alcoholics-recognise-the-problem</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle>Essential insight into addiction from an alcoholic</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this fascinating episode, join John and Lou for a kitchen table conversation as they talk about the key subject, "Why can't alcoholics recognise the problem?". It is an essential episode for people wanting to understand the complexities of alcohol addiction. </p><br><p>John has been sober for over 40 years, but he had a problem with drinking for many years. In this episode Lou talks to John about why he could not recognise his problem with alcohol. It is very difficult to put yourself in the position or mindset of somebody who is addicted, but John's personal account and his ability to express how he felt and reflect on who he was at that time is incredibly helpful to your understanding, either as a family member or a problem drinker.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this fascinating episode, join John and Lou for a kitchen table conversation as they talk about the key subject, "Why can't alcoholics recognise the problem?". It is an essential episode for people wanting to understand the complexities of alcohol addiction. </p><br><p>John has been sober for over 40 years, but he had a problem with drinking for many years. In this episode Lou talks to John about why he could not recognise his problem with alcohol. It is very difficult to put yourself in the position or mindset of somebody who is addicted, but John's personal account and his ability to express how he felt and reflect on who he was at that time is incredibly helpful to your understanding, either as a family member or a problem drinker.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Quick Take - Checklist for making your decision to stay or leave an alcoholic</title>
			<itunes:title>Quick Take - Checklist for making your decision to stay or leave an alcoholic</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>2:47</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>quick-take-checklist-for-making-your-decision-to-stay-or-lea</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[Deciding to stay or go is a big decision - here's a checklist]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>bonus</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Deciding to stay with, or leave, your alcoholic partner is a big decision. In this clip from episode two, here is the checklist you will want to consider.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Deciding to stay with, or leave, your alcoholic partner is a big decision. In this clip from episode two, here is the checklist you will want to consider.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Should I stay? Or should I go?</title>
			<itunes:title>Should I stay? Or should I go?</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>19:39</itunes:duration>
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			<acast:episodeUrl>should-i-stay-or-should-i-go</acast:episodeUrl>
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			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[It's a big decision with some important considerations when living with an alcoholic]]></itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>Please note, if you are under any threat, go. Seek help and advice, and remove yourself from a dangerous situation. Safety first.</p><br><p>In this episode of kitchen table conversation, John and Lou look at one of the big and often difficult decisions, "Should I stay? Or should I go?". They talk you through what you should consider before making a decision, and what to do if you are under any threat. We understand that for many people the decision to stay or go can be very difficult. People love their partner and will often say that they are perfectly nice and reasonable when they're not drinking, and they don't want to leave. Equally, living with an alcoholic is very tough and takes its toll on you and your family, and it is completely understandable to feel you cannot live with the situation any longer.</p><br><p>Remember, your decision won't be "wrong", and it isn't permanent. You are living under great stress. Be kind to yourself.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Please note, if you are under any threat, go. Seek help and advice, and remove yourself from a dangerous situation. Safety first.</p><br><p>In this episode of kitchen table conversation, John and Lou look at one of the big and often difficult decisions, "Should I stay? Or should I go?". They talk you through what you should consider before making a decision, and what to do if you are under any threat. We understand that for many people the decision to stay or go can be very difficult. People love their partner and will often say that they are perfectly nice and reasonable when they're not drinking, and they don't want to leave. Equally, living with an alcoholic is very tough and takes its toll on you and your family, and it is completely understandable to feel you cannot live with the situation any longer.</p><br><p>Remember, your decision won't be "wrong", and it isn't permanent. You are living under great stress. Be kind to yourself.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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		<item>
			<title><![CDATA[Quick Take "They're not there" - Alcohol creates an absence in your relationship - living with an alcoholic]]></title>
			<itunes:title><![CDATA[Quick Take "They're not there" - Alcohol creates an absence in your relationship - living with an alcoholic]]></itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:30:00 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>4:36</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>When your partner is drinking alcohol, mentally and emotionally they may be absent</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>trailer</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>3</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>In this clip from Episode 2 "Is my partner an alcoholic or am I making a fuss?", John and Lou discuss the effect of alcohol on a relationship. If your partner is lying on the sofa drunk, then physically your partner might be there, but mentally and emotionally they are not present. This repeated absence can make it seem impossible to have a relationship. Listen and subscribe to our series for help, advice, and support when living with an alcoholic.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>In this clip from Episode 2 "Is my partner an alcoholic or am I making a fuss?", John and Lou discuss the effect of alcohol on a relationship. If your partner is lying on the sofa drunk, then physically your partner might be there, but mentally and emotionally they are not present. This repeated absence can make it seem impossible to have a relationship. Listen and subscribe to our series for help, advice, and support when living with an alcoholic.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Is my partner an alcoholic or am I making a fuss?</title>
			<itunes:title>Is my partner an alcoholic or am I making a fuss?</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:00:52 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>27:59</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>How to understand if your partner has a problem with alcohol</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>2</itunes:episode>
			<itunes:image href="https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6865bd57cef4b8f705e0130a/1751888565357-47226402-36c0-44c5-9572-6ecc882b6487.jpeg"/>
			<description><![CDATA[<p>Join John and Lou for a kitchen table conversation as they consider one of the fundamental questions of problem drinking - assessing whether your partner is an alcoholic. You might think there is a problem, but you are unsure. This could be through fear of recognising the issue, uncertainty as to what the symptoms might be, or you may be told by your partner, or others, that you are making a fuss. This episode gives you two ways to consider the question - the assessment used by clinicians (the DSM-5) and, equally importantly, the approach that Bottled Up also uses, which is to look at the consequences of drinking to the people living with the problem drinker.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>Join John and Lou for a kitchen table conversation as they consider one of the fundamental questions of problem drinking - assessing whether your partner is an alcoholic. You might think there is a problem, but you are unsure. This could be through fear of recognising the issue, uncertainty as to what the symptoms might be, or you may be told by your partner, or others, that you are making a fuss. This episode gives you two ways to consider the question - the assessment used by clinicians (the DSM-5) and, equally importantly, the approach that Bottled Up also uses, which is to look at the consequences of drinking to the people living with the problem drinker.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years.</p><br><p>Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
		</item>
		<item>
			<title>Meet your hosts John and Lou</title>
			<itunes:title>Meet your hosts John and Lou</itunes:title>
			<pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2025 19:55:28 GMT</pubDate>
			<itunes:duration>2:15</itunes:duration>
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			<itunes:subtitle>John McMahon and Lou Lewis are the founders of Bottled Up helping families and problem drinkers navigate the difficulties of alcohol addiction</itunes:subtitle>
			<itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
			<itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
			<itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode>
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			<description><![CDATA[<p>John and Lou are here to help you change your life. In this short episode they talk a little about their experiences with problem drinkers and alcohol addiction.</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years. Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>Join John and Lou for kitchen table conversations as they offer help, advice, and support for people living with problem drinkers and those with alcohol addiction. There is a huge amount of insight, practical advice, sympathy, smart strategies and humour on offer.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></description>
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[<p>John and Lou are here to help you change your life. In this short episode they talk a little about their experiences with problem drinkers and alcohol addiction.</p><br><p>Dr John McMahon is a professor and was the senior lecturer for addiction counsellors at the University of the West of Scotland. He has led prominent studies into alcohol addiction for more than 15 years. Before this, for many years, John had an addiction to alcohol. He has been&nbsp;sober for over&nbsp;40&nbsp;years. Lou Lewis is a professional&nbsp;counsellor&nbsp;and the co-founder of Bottled Up with John. Lou's first husband had an addiction to alcohol for many years, from that experience and her counselling Lou has a deep understanding of&nbsp;the&nbsp;difficulties&nbsp;of living with problem drinkers.&nbsp;</p><br><p>Join John and Lou for kitchen table conversations as they offer help, advice, and support for people living with problem drinkers and those with alcohol addiction. There is a huge amount of insight, practical advice, sympathy, smart strategies and humour on offer.</p><br><p>For more information on the service Bottled Up provides, visit: www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>John and Lou are married and live in England. They founded Bottled Up in the hope that it would help change your life.</p><p>The Bottled Up program is innovative and advocates that the partners of alcoholics can introduce changes to their lives, which will empower them and influence their drinkers to change. If you live with an alcoholic partner, or are looking for help to quit drinking, then Bottled Up is for you.</p><br><p>For more help and advice visit www.bottled-up.com</p><br><p>For advertising and sponsorship opportunities email info@snapper-films.com</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>]]></itunes:summary>
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