Libsyn Directory

Not the Norm with Toni Will

Release Date: 10/29/2025

The A-Z Of An Alcohol-Free Christmas (Part 1)

The Alcohol Debate

In this episode of The Alcohol Debate, Tabbin Almond takes us on a journey through the A to Z of having an alcohol-free Christmas, offering insightful strategies to navigate the festive season without the influence of alcohol. Drawing from her experience in advertising, Tabin emphasizes the importance of creative thinking and reframing our relationship with alcohol during this time of year. The conversation begins with the acknowledgment of anxiety, a common trigger for festive drinking, and moves into the realm of alternatives, encouraging listeners to explore new choices and activities that...

What Do We Do With The Drunken Sailor (Or Construction Worker)?

The Alcohol Debate

This conversation with Nick McMurray was such a refreshing shift from the usual workplace narrative around drugs and alcohol. Nick is a Director of Positive Matters, an organisation that helps businesses build strategies that meet safety requirements for substance misuse through a culture of trust and support. Their focus is on the health and mental well being of employees, which is a world away from the test and fire approach that still appears far too often. His work brings together clarity, strategy, and humanity in a way that genuinely benefits both people and organisations. We...

Parties Without Repercussions

The Alcohol Debate

Office parties can be brilliant for bringing people together, but they also have a habit of going off the rails when alcohol takes the lead. In this episode, I talk through how employers and employees can shape a celebration that’s warm, fun, and genuinely memorable, without waking up to HR headaches the next morning. It’s not about banning booze, it’s about taking back control of the evening so everyone feels safe and included. I also share some practical tricks for anyone attending a work party and hoping to avoid drinking more than they planned. From choosing a first...

Once upon a time: Story-telling to effect change with Dr Susanne Evans

The Alcohol Debate

This conversation with Dr Susanne Evans opened up the side of workplace drinking culture that often hides in plain sight. Susanne brings 25 years of organisational change experience, spanning Big 4 consultancy, academia and boardrooms in multiple sectors. She is the author of the bestselling book ChangeStories, host of a Top 40 Apple UK Business and Management podcast and a specialist in using stories to create honest, practical conversations that spark real transformation. Her work helps leaders find the clarity, confidence and language to lead when it matters most. Together, we...

Hiding in Plain Sight with Jelan Agnew

The Alcohol Debate

This week I’m joined by the brilliant and brave Jelan Agnew, Keynote and TEDx Speaker, Life Coach, Wellness Consultant, and Mindfulness Facilitator. Jelan opens up about the moment her life changed forever - waking up in ICU in the same hospital she once worked at. What followed was an incredible journey from silence and shame to freedom and fulfilment. We talk about the dangers of hiding behind “having it all together,” how stigma keeps people suffering in secret, and the unexpected joy that comes with living life fully awake again. Jelan’s honesty is raw, refreshing and deeply...

Spotlight on NLP And How it Can Help Overcome Addictions

The Alcohol Debate

In this episode, I’m joined by NLP practitioner Tina LeAnn, founder of The Sovereign Soul, NLP Master Practitioner & Trainer, Human Design & Gene Keys expert, transformational coach, and host of The Sovereign Soul Podcast. Tina’s work sits at the intersection of deep energetics and practical structure. We’ll explore how our early coping mechanisms quietly shape our adult behaviour, especially when it comes to alcohol and other habits. We talk about why “I’ll just stop drinking” rarely works without understanding what’s happening underneath — and how...

Booze & Boobs - The Facts About Breast Cancer

The Alcohol Debate

In this episode, I’m talking about something that’s often brushed aside but really needs our attention - the link between alcohol and cancer. I’ll share what the science actually says, how alcohol became recognised as a carcinogen by the World Health Organisation, and why even light or “middle lane” drinking increases risk. This isn’t about shame or blame. Having faced breast cancer myself, I know how complex this is. My goal is simply to inform and empower you, so you can make choices that genuinely support your health and peace of mind. I’ll also walk you through my...

Not the Norm with Toni Will

The Alcohol Debate

In this episode, I sit down with trailblazer Toni Will, General Manager of the Kalamazoo Wings and the first woman to hold that role in the team’s 50-year history. Toni shares her journey from banking to professional sports, the gender bias she’s faced, and how she’s changing the culture of leadership - on and off the ice. We also talk about the drinking culture in sports, what it means to lead alcohol-free, and how authenticity and courage can create lasting change. Toni is a speaker, author, and the first female GM in ECHL history. She empowers women to thrive in male-dominated...

Managing Grief Without Drowning Your Sorrows

The Alcohol Debate

This week, I share a deeply personal story about loss, love, and the courage to stay alcohol-free through grief. After saying goodbye to my beloved dog of sixteen years, I found myself reflecting on how differently I face pain now compared to my drinking days. In this episode, I explore the emotional landscape of grief, from denial to acceptance, and how tools like the Serenity Prayer, connection, and self-compassion can guide us through it. It’s an honest conversation about vulnerability, resilience, and why clarity - not alcohol - is what truly helps us heal. Here...

The Case For Compassionate Leadership with Jason Matthews

The Alcohol Debate

In this episode, I’m joined by executive coach Jason Matthews for a thought-provoking conversation on leadership, trust, and how company culture shapes our relationship with alcohol. Jason is a leadership consultant with a background in Psychology, specialising in CBT, emotional intelligence, and trauma-informed care. Through his work with Relatem, he helps leaders overcome limiting patterns and build organisations that thrive even when they’re not in the room. We explore whether leaders need personal experience with addiction to create meaningful change and why compassion, not...

More Episodes

In this episode, I sit down with trailblazer Toni Will, General Manager of the Kalamazoo Wings and the first woman to hold that role in the team’s 50-year history.

Toni shares her journey from banking to professional sports, the gender bias she’s faced, and how she’s changing the culture of leadership - on and off the ice. We also talk about the drinking culture in sports, what it means to lead alcohol-free, and how authenticity and courage can create lasting change.

Toni is a speaker, author, and the first female GM in ECHL history. She empowers women to thrive in male-dominated industries and to live in alignment with their values. Her debut book launches March 1, 2026, and her podcast Women In… spotlights inspiring women redefining success.

Here are the highlights:

From banking to the ice rink: an unexpected career leap (02:00)

Breaking barriers as the first female GM (06:38)

Challenging bias and earning respect in sports leadership (08:47)

Owning her story and mentoring women in male-dominated industries (11:43)

Reframing success and self-worth through sobriety (17:33)

Changing drinking culture from the top down (23:01)

Leadership, inclusion, and why rewards shouldn’t come in bottles (26:20)

Combining authenticity, influence, and impact (27:13)

The shift toward wellness in professional sports (30:02)

How alcohol-free living builds real connection and culture (33:09)

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