Uncovering the Truth: The Best TedX Talks on Alcohol Use Disorder

February 16, 2023

TedX talks are a platform for thought-provoking discussions on various subjects, and alcohol use disorder is no exception. With the increasing number of people struggling with addiction, several TedX speakers have shared their personal experiences and insights on the topic. From exploring the root causes of addiction to offering advice for those seeking help, these videos provide a powerful and educational look at the impact of alcohol use disorder. Whether you are a loved one, or someone seeking information, these top TedX videos about alcohol use disorder are a must-watch.

Gray Area Drinking by Jolene Park

Jolene Park is a motivational speaker and addiction advocate who has shared her powerful story of overcoming addiction through her TEDx talk “Gray Area Drinking.” Born into a family with a history of drug and alcohol abuse, Jolene struggled with addiction for many years before finally getting clean and turning her life around.

Through her talk, she shares her journey to recovery and the strategies she used to overcome her addiction, including the importance of finding a support network and building a strong sense of self-worth. With her inspiring story and practical advice, Jolene provides hope and inspiration to others struggling with addiction and encourages them to take the first step towards recovery. Through her work, she strives to break down the stigma surrounding addiction and promote a greater understanding of this disease.

INSTAGRAM: @jolene__park

Drinking and How it Changed My Life – Ann Dowsett-Johnston

Ann Dowsett-Johnston is a Canadian journalist and author known for her work on addiction and recovery. She is best known for her TEDx talk “Drinking and how it changed my life.” in which she shares her personal experience with alcohol abuse disorder and the lack of understanding surrounding this disease.

With her powerful story and insightful commentary, Ann brings a unique perspective to the conversation about addiction and the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding it. Through her work, she advocates for better education and resources for individuals and families affected by alcohol abuse disorder. Ann’s passion for the topic has made her a respected voice in the addiction community and a powerful advocate for change.

TWITTER: @anndowsettj

Making Sober Less Shameful – Clare Pooley

Clare Pooley is a writer and advocate who is known for her TEDx talk “How I gave up alcohol and started living.” In her talk, Clare shares her personal story of struggling with alcohol addiction and how she eventually found sobriety. After years of partying and trying to keep up with the demands of work and motherhood, she realized she needed to make a change. In her talk, she shares the strategies she used to quit drinking, including the importance of finding a support network and setting achievable goals.

With her relatable story and practical advice, Clare offers a message of hope and inspiration to others struggling with addiction and encourages them to seek help. Through her work, she aims to break down the stigma surrounding addiction and promote a greater understanding of the disease.

WEBSITE: Clare Pooley

INSTAGRAM: @clare_pooley

Rewriting The Story of Addiction – Jo Harvey Weatherford

Jo Harvey Weatherpool is a speaker and advocate known for her TEDx talk “Why addiction is a family disease.” In her talk, she shares her personal experience of growing up in a family affected by addiction and the impact it had on her life. Jo highlights the often-overlooked fact that addiction is a family disease and that the effects of addiction go beyond the individual struggling with substance abuse.

Through her talk, she offers support and advice for those who have been affected by addiction in their family and encourages them to seek help and support for themselves. With her powerful message and relatable story, Jo Harvey Weatherpool has become a respected voice in the addiction community, advocating for greater understanding and support for families affected by addiction.

INSTAGRAM: @jo.weatherford

How I Overcame Alcoholism – Claudia Christian

Claudia Christian is an actress, singer, and writer who is known for her TEDx talk “Breaking the cycle of addiction.” In her talk, she shares her personal experience of struggling with alcohol addiction and the journey to recovery. Claudia highlights the importance of seeking help and support for those struggling with addiction, and encourages individuals to be open about their struggles with substance abuse.

With her powerful story and insightful commentary, Claudia offers a message of hope and inspiration to others who are facing similar challenges and encourages them to take the first step towards recovery. Through her work, she strives to break down the stigma surrounding addiction and promote a greater understanding of this disease.

TWITTER: @ClaudiaLives

Drinking Culture Undistilled – Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith talks candidly about the boozy culture we find ourselves in as she takes a public stance towards normalizing sobriety. Looking through the lens of her life she shares her personal story with alcohol abuse as well as her perspective as a professional in the addictions field. Michelle is an author, speaker, and founder of Recovery is the New Black, a digital community for women living or exploring an alcohol-free life.

As a wife and working mother of two, she fell into the “mommy juice” drinking culture. Michelle found a way out and has been in recovery from alcohol abuse since 2016. As a certified addiction and mental health counselor, she provides services to other moms who are seeking supportive alternatives to a boozy culture that tells us alcohol is an accessory to motherhood. Michelle has 20 years of experience in the field of addiction medicine and behavioral health treatment! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Sober Curator Pro Tip: We’ve featured Michelle Smith before! Recovery is the new black Michelle Smith (thesobercurator.com)

Recover Out Loud – Tara Conner

Tara Conner is a speaker and advocate known for her TEDx talk “Recover Out Loud: Breaking the silence on addiction.” In her talk, she shares her personal story of overcoming alcohol and drug addiction, and the importance of speaking out about the disease of addiction. Tara highlights the stigma surrounding addiction and the negative impact it can have on those seeking help and encourages individuals to be open and honest about their struggles with substance abuse.

INSTAGRAM: @taraeconner

FACEBOOK: Tara Conner

TWITTER: @taraconner

Recovering Out Loud – Teri Smith

Teri Smith is a speaker and advocate known for her TEDx talk “Recovering Out Loud.” In her talk, she shares her personal story of overcoming addiction and the importance of speaking out about the disease of addiction. Teri highlights the stigma surrounding addiction and the negative impact it can have on those seeking help and encourages individuals to be open and honest about their struggles with substance abuse.

Laughing at Addiction – Jessica Landon

Jessica Landon is a speaker and advocate known for her TEDx talk “Laughing at Addiction.” In her talk, she shares her personal story of overcoming addiction and the importance of speaking out about the disease of addiction. Jessica highlights the stigma surrounding addiction and the negative impact it can have on those seeking help and encourages individuals to be open and honest about their struggles with substance abuse.

INSTAGRAM: @jessicalandon12

FACEBOOK: Jessica Landon

Sobriety Rocks – Janey Lee Grace

Janie Lee Grace is a speaker and advocate known for her TEDx talk “Sobriety Rocks – Who Knew!” In her talk, she shares her personal story of overcoming addiction and the importance of speaking out about the disease of addiction. Janie highlights the stigma surrounding addiction and the negative impact it can have on those seeking help and encourages individuals to be open and honest about their struggles with substance abuse.

Alcoholism – The Deadly Truth About Its Stigma – Sarah Drage

In a deeply personal talk, Sarah Drage shares why she believes the stigma attached to alcoholism killed her dad. Challenging society’s current stereotype against alcoholism by drawing from her family’s lived experience, Sarah’s story is powerful, hard-hitting and emotive, and certainly gives her audience something to think about. Her aim? To break down the stigma attached to alcoholism and empower alcoholics to recover openly and freely, rather than shaming them into silence and anonymity.

Disclaimer – Please note that the speaker is aware of the current language changes that are being made to break down the stigma attached to alcohol use disorder. For the sake of majority understanding and to make her point as clear as possible, the speaker has chosen to use colloquial language, and will use the terms alcoholism and alcoholic when referring to alcohol use disorder.

Sarah Drage is the founder and CEO of the charitable organization WarriorKind. She is a devoted daughter on a mission to quash the stigmas attached to mental illnesses. After losing her dad in 2017 to alcoholism, Sarah leveraged her own lived experiences of loss, anxiety, OCD & PTSD, and channeled her trauma into founding the mental health support organization WarriorKind, where encouraging healthy conversations around mental wellbeing is core in their mission to breaking down stigmas and supporting their community.

INSTAGRAM: @sarah_drage

The Island of Sanity: Navigating Through Loved Ones’ Addictions – Karen Perlmutter

With a master’s degree in clinical social work, Karen has seen first-hand that addiction is a tragedy with a profound effect on the family. She has ideas on how we can support families in combatting the devastating effects of this disease After earning her undergraduate degree through the University of South Carolina in 2003, Karen began working with teens and families through a therapeutic foster care agency. She pursued higher education in the field, earning her Master’s in Clinical Social Work at the University of North Carolina (Wilmington) in 2007, and continuing on to becoming a Licensed Independent Social Worker.

Karen has over a decade of experience working as a therapist with individuals, couples, and families. She specializes in the treatment of substance abuse and mental illness and has developed a particular interest in supporting the holistic needs of families who are affected by these struggles. Karen has developed an evidence-based curriculum for families coping with a loved one’s substance abuse. She has also spoken in a variety of settings including community outreach events, public radio, university campuses, and treatment centers. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Why Sobriety is a Superpower for Women – Emily Paulson

Emily is a writer, speaker, Certified Naked Mind Coach, She Recovers Designated Coach, and the founder of Sober Mom Squad. Sober since January 2, 2017, she has appeared on media outlets including The Doctors, Parade, The Washington Post, Today Parents, and USA Today, discussing how to end the shame and stigma of mental health and substance abuse.

Emily is the author of Highlight Real: Finding Honesty & Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life, and a contributor in Addiction Diaries: Stories of Darkness, Hope, And All That Falls In Between. She resides in Seattle with her husband and their five children. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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