Join a transformative experience that will redefine your life, led by Justine Santowiak.
Celebrating a decade of sobriety and now in her 50s, Justine is dedicated to nurturing your growth and overall well-being through her personal and professional expertise.
Featured Articles
Insights, Tips, and Real-Life Transformations
Signs of alcohol dependency by Aussie mum whose booze addiction left her with months to live
Australian woman Justine admits she ‘lost grasp of reality and what life was’. At 18, Justine Whitchurch drank alcohol “like any other teenager”. But two decades later, the mother of two was handed a death sentence. At just 47kg, her hair was falling out, she was at high risk of heart attack and her liver was shutting down - she was given just months to live. All because of her addiction to alcohol. Justine, then in her late 30s, had spent 20 years concealing....
'I drank my way through my first divorce. Here's how I'm navigating my second sober.'
What a difference. On the home front, I'm generally a very private person. I don't discuss the trials and tribulations of my personal relationships publicly unless it aligns with my overall message. And even then, it will always remain of a general nature. But over the last seven months I have experienced epiphanies that are too significant not to share and reinforce my narrative that 'alcohol takes away your power and capacity to cope'. After a long period....
'At 40, the decade ahead looked bleak and depressing. Then I stopped drinking.'
Last year, I wrote for Mamamia about how alcohol almost killed me. About how, I'd pour my first glass of wine immediately after the school run, and how that would be followed by many, many more. About how my health deteriorated so badly, I genuinely didn't know if I was going to make it. But that somehow I did, going completely sober at the age of 39. As I turned 40, even though I was on the right path, the decade ahead looked....
'I've been sober for 9 years. Here's how I navigate the festive season alcohol-free.'
If you're newly sober and still finding your feet in the social arena, it's bloody tough. Add in all the frivolities of the silly season and you can honestly feel royally stuffed. Everywhere you turn there are corks popping, cocktails shaking and glasses clinking. And for the person who’s still pretty attached to the drink being a large part of their socialising habits, that environment is honestly pretty shite. I clearly remember my first sober Christmas as one of the....
'I had my dream career in the music industry. But then I started drinking.'
Sobriety gave me back my wings. That is, the ones that I never even knew had been clipped. Drinking for me in the 'manageable' days gave me a sense of what I thought at the time was courage. A calming effect that seemingly made me feel as if the craziness in my head was a little quieter. Taking that 'edge' off the parts of my thoughts that felt a little too heavy. Removing a burden that I couldn't deal with rationally. And alleviating any unnecessary stress....
'I've been sober 9 years. Burnout is the biggest challenge I've faced.'
I woke up this particular morning with my heart pounding. My skin almost felt like it was on fire. That all familiar cortisol fuelled eye-opening when everything seemed too hard right from the get go. So much to do, so little time and not enough stamina to do it. Over committed and overwhelmed - a significant lack of self-care. Heading towards burnout. Add to the equation weeks of poor sleep combined with late nights and too much screen time. My mind was a muddled mess, every muscle in my body ached. My OCD had been in full flight all week leaving my brain with zero....
'On my worst days, I'd pour a wine after the school run. It'd be the first of many.'
It was the tail end of a year-long, 24/7 drinking period. I’d been moved interstate by my family and had just been enrolled into a rehabilitation program as a forced intervention. My two beautiful children were being 'shadow minded' by parents due to my inability to look after them properly myself and my husband was flying between states, trying to keep work commitments, terrified of what might happen next. I was skeletal by then, weighing just 47kgs. My hair....
Book Justine for Your Next Event, Interview, or Feature!
Sobriety gave me everything alcohol promised—and more. It wasn’t just about quitting drinking; it was about rediscovering myself, reclaiming my health, and proving that aging doesn’t have to mean slowing down. Now, I’m passionate about helping others see what’s possible when they choose a different path.
I openly share my journey—the highs, the struggles, and the unexpected joys of living alcohol-free. With a focus on wellness, reverse aging, and creating a life where alcohol simply doesn’t fit, I bring honest, engaging conversations to:
🎤 Speaking events – corporate wellness, sobriety panels, health summits, and more
🎙️ Podcasts – deep, unfiltered discussions on alcohol-free living, mindset shifts, and transformation
📰 Articles & Media Features – expert insights on sobriety, fitness, aging, and self-discovery
📺 Interviews – raw, real, and relatable conversations about the impact of alcohol and what’s on the other side
If you're looking for a speaker, podcast guest, or media feature who lives and breathes this journey, I’d love to connect. Let’s start the conversation.
