Do I Really Need a Reason to Go Sober? 10 years of sobriety with Maz Compton

In this real, raw, and joyfully honest episode of Yeah The Gals, I sit down with my good friend, radio host, author, and sobriety advocate — the amazing Maz Compton.

Maz is celebrating 10 years sober — yep, a whole decade — and we go deep on what that journey has looked like: from the moment she decided to take a break from drinking, to completely overhauling her relationship with alcohol and stepping into an entirely new way of living.

We unpack why Aussie culture is so obsessed with drinking — from bottomless brunches to beers at the pub, it's everywhere — and yet, the reality of drinking isn’t always what it's cracked up to be.

We talk honestly about the pressure to "just have one", how alcohol is both glamorised and normalised, and what we miss out on when we keep drinking just because everyone else is.

We also get into my own experience with sobriety — how I tried to stop, what I learned, and why it’s okay if you don’t get it "right" the first time. It’s not a black-and-white conversation. We laugh, we cry, and we reflect on what it really means to live in alignment with what’s right for you.

✨ So if you've ever had that quiet little thought — “maybe I’d feel better if I drank less” — but then immediately shut it down because “I don’t have a problem with drinking, so why bother?”… this episode is for you.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Maz’s journey to 10 years of sobriety — the first steps and what keeps her going

• The drinking culture in Australia and how it’s celebrated (sometimes at our expense)

• What alcohol really does to our minds, bodies, and relationships

• The benefits of not drinking — clearer thinking, better sleep, deeper connections

• The stigma around choosing sobriety, especially when you don't "hit rock bottom"

• My personal attempt at going sober (and what didn’t go to plan)

• Why it's okay to question your drinking without needing a dramatic reason

• The healing power of honest conversations, grey-area drinking, and self-compassion

• Maz’s incredible work as a sobriety advocate, author, and host of the Last Drinks podcast

  
  

🧡 Whether you're sober-curious, taking a break, or just wondering what life might look like with less booze, this chat is filled with real talk, good laughs, and a whole lot of heart.

🎧 Listen to Maz’s podcast: Last Drinks📚 Check out her books: Last Drinks & The Social Rebellion📲 Follow Maz on Instagram: @mazcompton

🎥 Watch us on YouTube – ⁠Yeah The Gals Podcast⁠📲 Follow us on Instagram – ⁠@yeahthegalspodcast⁠

🧡 We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this episode was recorded and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all First Nations peoples listening today.