In this episode, I break down why alcohol is the greatest trap ever invented for humans and how to finally escape it.

This is not about willpower, moderation, or fixing a drinking problem. It is about understanding how your brain actually works and why so many smart, capable people get stuck in patterns that no longer serve them.

We explore how alcohol hijacks your thinking, why it creates the illusion of relaxation, and how outdated evolutionary wiring keeps people trapped in a loop they do not even realise they are in. Once you see it clearly, everything changes.

This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, stressed, anxious, or quietly underperforming and wants a smarter, more empowering way to change their relationship with alcohol for good.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why alcohol is a thinking trap, not a drinking problem
• How alcohol bypasses rational decision making
• Why alcohol feels relaxing but actually creates more stress
• How habit loops keep you stuck
• The role of your subconscious brain in behaviour
• Why awareness is the key to lasting change
• How to escape the alcohol trap without willpower

Timestamps

00:00 – Why alcohol is a thinking trap
02:00 – How alcohol hijacks the brain
05:00 – The illusion of relaxation
08:00 – Habit loops and subconscious control
12:00 – What alcohol really does to sleep and stress
16:00 – Why the trap keeps repeating
20:00 – Awareness as the way out
End – Escaping the trap for good

If this episode resonated and you want support on your alcohol-free journey, here are a few ways to join me.

If you want to train your brain and understand how to change habits properly, download my free course Train Your Brain at https://andyramage.com/

If you want structure, support, and momentum around living alcohol free, explore the Alcohol Free Advantage course at https://andyramage.com/

If coaching is calling you and you want to help others change their lives, join me at Coach Business School
https://coachbusiness.school/

I would love to see you on the journey.

Let’s do this.

This episode is a reminder of why I fell in love with podcasting in the first place. No hype. No hard sell. Just a real, honest, deeply human conversation about life without alcohol and what becomes possible when you step off the drinking treadmill.

Jenny McDevitt joins me for a chat that starts with one of the most embarrassing moments of my early speaking career and turns into a powerful exploration of clarity, confidence, culture, and connection. From Irish pubs to emotional resilience, this conversation is full of warmth, wisdom, and laughter.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why alcohol free living creates freedom, not restriction
• How removing alcohol clears mental noise and builds confidence
• The emotional shifts that can show up when you stop drinking
• Why Irish culture is quietly leading the alcohol free movement
• How clarity leads to braver life decisions
• Why consistency builds resilience and excitement for the future
• How alcohol free living strengthens family relationships
• What a real social connection looks like without alcohol
• Why sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer
• How one decision can quietly change everything

Timestamps:

00:00 – 03:00 How Jenny saved me from total mortification
03:00 – 06:00 From Edinburgh book signings to alcohol free beginnings
06:00 – 09:00 Taking a break and the mindset shift that matters
09:00 – 12:00 Irish culture, pubs, and alcohol free progress
12:00 – 15:00 Emotional releases and unexpected breakthroughs
15:00 – 18:00 Sleep, clarity, and better life decisions
18:00 – 22:00 Moving home, family connection, and courage
22:00 – 26:00 Resilience, confidence, and facing life head on
26:00 – 30:00 Advice for anyone starting an alcohol free break
30:00 – End Why alcohol free is the ultimate superpower

Links and resources:

Coach Business School
Train as a life coach, executive coach, or alcohol free performance coach with me
https://www.coachbusiness.school 

Authentic Brew
Functional wellness at its best. Good for you, good for your family, and good for the planet
25% of net profits go back to rewilding people and places
https://www.authenticbrew.com

Andy’s Dryy App
Daily support, tools, and motivation for your alcohol free journey
Search “Dryy” in your app store

If this episode resonates, please follow or subscribe so you never miss a conversation. It makes a bigger difference than you might think.

Until next time, keep rocking it on your alcohol free adventures.

In this episode, I share a powerful and deeply personal conversation about what it really means to unleash the alcohol-free advantage and step into a more vibrant, intentional life.

This is not about giving something up. It is about starting an adventure towards your optimal self.

I explore why simply “stopping” drinking rarely sticks long term, and why real, lasting change comes from building a compelling life where alcohol naturally loses its appeal. We dive into performance, identity, energy, mental health, confidence, and why so many good people are unknowingly operating far below their true potential.

This episode is for anyone who feels tired, flat, stuck, or quietly underperforming and knows, deep down, that alcohol may be playing a bigger role than they have been willing to admit. It is an invitation to question the stories you have been sold, reclaim your authentic self, and consciously design the life you actually want to lead.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why quitting alcohol is not about restriction, but expansion
• The alcohol-free advantage and why it changes everything
• How alcohol quietly caps energy, mood, and performance
• Why self-development beats willpower every time
• The role of identity in lasting behaviour change
• How alcohol impacts sleep, mental health, and consistency
• Why most people are underperforming without realising it
• How clarity creates momentum
• Why confidence returns when you remove alcohol
• How to design a life where alcohol no longer fits into

Timestamps

00:00 – 02:00 What the alcohol-free advantage really means
02:00 – 04:00 Why stopping is not the solution
04:00 – 06:00 Alcohol and underperformance
06:00 – 08:00 Identity, personality, and alcohol
08:00 – 10:00 The middle-aged myth
10:00 – 12:00 Alcohol, joy, and false rewards
12:00 – 14:00 Escaping the alcohol trap
14:00 – 16:00 Why alcohol-free living creates an advantage
16:00 – 18:00 Building a compelling life without alcohol
18:00 – 20:00 Slips, learning, and self-compassion
20:00 – End Choosing alcohol freedom on your own terms

If this episode resonated and you want support on your own alcohol-free journey, here are a few ways to join me.

If you want daily structure, guidance, and connection around living alcohol free, download DRYY (https://www.dryyapp.com/), my alcohol-free app and community. It is designed to help you build clarity, consistency, and momentum without doing it alone.

If living alcohol free is part of your lifestyle, check out Authentic Brew (https://www.authenticbrew.com/), a functional alcohol-free drink designed to support focus, energy, and connection without compromise.

If coaching is calling you and you want to learn how to help others change their lives, come and join me at Coach Business School (https://coachbusiness.school/), where I train and mentor coaches personally.

And if you are already an accredited coach and want to build a sustainable coaching business, join me inside Coach MBA (https://coachbusiness.school/business-and-marketing-mastery/), where I teach marketing and business specifically for coaches.

I would love to see you in the community very soon.

Let’s do this.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Clark for a powerful and honest conversation about what it really takes to change your relationship with alcohol and step into a more confident, intentional life.

We talk about identity shifts, self-trust, consistency, and why quitting alcohol is not about restriction or deprivation, but about reclaiming energy, clarity, and personal power. Jessica shares her lived experience, the challenges she faced, and the mindset shifts that made lasting change possible.

This episode is for anyone who knows alcohol is holding them back and is ready to lead their own life with more courage and self-belief.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why mindset matters more than willpower
• How identity drives long-term change
• The difference between quitting and upgrading your life
• Why confidence grows through consistency
• How to navigate social pressure alcohol free
• The role of self-trust in behaviour change
• Why clarity beats motivation every time
• How alcohol quietly erodes performance
• What it means to quit alcohol on your own terms
• How to lead yourself like a boss

Timestamps

00:00 – 02:00 Jessica’s alcohol free turning point
02:00 – 04:00 Why willpower is not the answer
04:00 – 06:00 Identity shifts and self-leadership
06:00 – 08:00 Social pressure and people pleasing
08:00 – 10:00 Alcohol and confidence
10:00 – 12:00 Consistency creates belief
12:00 – 14:00 Building self-trust without alcohol
14:00 – 16:00 Upgrading your life, not giving up
16:00 – 18:00 Owning your alcohol free choice
18:00 – End Quitting alcohol like a boss

If this episode resonated and you want support on your own alcohol free journey, here are a few ways to join me.

If you want daily structure, guidance, and connection around living alcohol free, download DRYY (https://www.dryyapp.com/), my alcohol free app and community. It is designed to help you build clarity, consistency, and momentum without doing it alone.

If living alcohol free is part of your lifestyle, check out Authentic Brew (https://www.authenticbrew.com/), a functional alcohol free drink designed to support focus, energy, and connection without compromise.

If coaching is calling you and you want to learn how to help others change their lives, come and join me at Coach Business School (https://coachbusiness.school/), where I train and mentor coaches personally.

And if you are already an accredited coach and want to build a sustainable coaching business, join me inside Coach MBA (https://coachbusiness.school/business-and-marketing-mastery/), where I teach marketing and business specifically for coaches.

I would love to see you in the community very soon.

Let’s do this.

In this episode, I share why I truly believe 2026 can become the most powerful year of your life.

This is the in-between space. Christmas is done, the noise has quietened, and there is a rare moment to reflect, reset, and decide how you want to live going forward. I talk about foundations, ambition, consistency, and why removing alcohol is often the single biggest lever you can pull to unlock clarity, energy, and momentum.

This is a rally call to dream bigger, think longer term, and stop repeating the same goals year after year. If you are ready to create a life of meaning, contribution, and real progress, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why the in-between week is such a powerful moment
• How alcohol quietly destroys consistency and momentum
• Why consistency over time beats talent every time
• The One Thing that makes everything else easier
• How to dream five to ten years into the future
• Why most people repeat the same goals every year
• How Big Hairy Audacious Goals train your brain
• The role of ambition and moral ambition
• Why contribution creates meaning and fulfilment
• How to make 2026 a genuine turning point

Timestamps

00:00 – 02:00 Why this reflection window matters
02:00 – 04:00 Setting the foundation for your greatest year
04:00 – 06:00 Alcohol and the destruction of consistency
06:00 – 08:00 Why one year alcohol free changes everything
08:00 – 10:00 Consistency, time, and elite performance
10:00 – 12:00 The One Thing that transforms all others
12:00 – 14:00 Big Hairy Audacious Goals explained
14:00 – 16:00 Ambition, clarity, and long-term thinking
16:00 – 18:00 Contribution, community, and meaning
18:00 – End Why 2026 can truly be your greatest ever

If this episode resonated and you want to take the next step, here are a few ways to join me.

If you want daily structure, inspiration, and connection around living alcohol free, download DRYY, my alcohol free app and community. It is designed to help you build clarity, consistency, and momentum without doing it alone.

If living alcohol free is part of your journey, check out Authentic Brew, a functional alcohol free drink designed to support focus, energy, and connection without compromise. 25% of net profits go into rewilding people and places and doing good in the world.

If you want to become an accredited coach and learn the skills to change lives, come and join me at Coach Business School. I will guide you personally through the training.

And if you are already an accredited coach and want to build a sustainable, impactful coaching business, join me inside Coach MBA, where I teach marketing and business specifically for coaches.

I would love to see you in the training very soon.

Let’s make 2026 an absolute cracker.

In this episode, I walk you through how to set goals that actually work. Not the kind you rewrite every January, but the kind that genuinely transforms your life.

For years, I wrote the same goals over and over again and wondered why nothing ever changed. The missing pieces were consistency, clarity, and removing the one thing that was quietly sabotaging my momentum. 

This conversation is about thinking bigger, training your brain properly, and creating the conditions where your goals stop feeling like wishful thinking and start becoming inevitable.

If you want 2026 to be your best year yet, this episode is your starting point.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why most goals fail before February
• How alcohol destroys consistency and momentum
• Why big goals train your brain differently
• What Big Hairy Audacious Goals really are
• How your brain filters opportunities
• Why emotional connection to goals is essential
• How to stop repeating the same goals every year
• Why clarity creates confidence
• How long-term thinking changes everything
• The foundation required for real transformation

Timestamps

00:00 – 02:00 Why 2026 can be your best year yet
02:00 – 04:00 The problem with repeating the same goals
04:00 – 06:00 Alcohol, consistency, and broken momentum
06:00 – 08:00 Removing alcohol as the foundation
08:00 – 10:00 Big Hairy Audacious Goals explained
10:00 – 12:00 Training your brain to spot opportunity
12:00 – 14:00 Emotional connection and goal filtering
14:00 – 16:00 Consistency over time changes everything
16:00 – 18:00 Why most people stay stuck
18:00 – End Building a life of abundance and purpose

If this episode resonated and you want to go deeper, here are a few ways you can join me.

If you want to get accredited as a coach and learn how to do this work with others, come and join me at Coach Business School. I will guide you through the training from start to finish.

If you are already an accredited coach and want to grow your business and impact, join me inside Coach MBA, where I teach marketing and business specifically for coaches.

If part of your journey includes living alcohol free, check out Authentic Brew, a functional alcohol free drink designed to support focus, energy, and connection without compromise.

And if you want daily support, learning, and community, download the DRYY app, our alcohol free platform and community.

I would love to see you in the training very soon.

Let’s do this.

In this episode, I share the extraordinary story of Neil Rutherford. A man who went from chronic illness, burnout, and quiet despair to reclaiming his health, identity, and purpose through lifestyle medicine and living alcohol free.

Neil’s journey is not about willpower. It is about removing the one variable that was quietly sabotaging everything else. Alcohol. What followed was not just weight loss or better blood results, but a complete shift in how he lives, leads, and shows up for his family and the world.

This conversation is living proof that the body wants to heal when you stop breaking it.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why alcohol is the most overlooked lifestyle medicine variable
• How removing alcohol accelerates every other health intervention
• The link between drinking, inflammation, anxiety, and chronic illness
• Why confidence without alcohol becomes internal and sustainable
• How identity shifts after health transformation
• Why lifestyle change beats medication alone
• The ripple effect of one person choosing an alcohol free life
• How purpose often emerges after healing
• Why men struggle in silence and how coaching changes that
• What freedom actually feels like on the other side

Timestamps

00:00 – 02:00 Neil’s introduction and why this story matters
02:00 – 04:00 Recruitment culture, identity, and drinking as normal
04:00 – 06:00 Obesity, anxiety, depression, and the hidden cost of alcohol
06:00 – 08:00 Quitting alcohol and discovering time, clarity, and choice
08:00 – 10:00 Lifestyle medicine, plant-based nutrition, and healing begin
10:00 – 12:00 Reversing diabetes, liver damage, and chronic inflammation
12:00 – 14:00 Gout, Christmas, and the moment everything changed
14:00 – 16:00 Anxiety, nervous system recovery, and real calm
16:00 – 18:00 Identity shift and becoming an Alcohol Free Warrior
18:00 – End Purpose, coaching, leadership, and the ripple effect of change

If this episode resonated and you want to take your alcohol free journey deeper, I highly recommend checking out Authentic Brew. It is a functional alcohol free drink designed to elevate energy, focus, and connection without the crash, the compromise, or the hangover. It is a powerful tool for anyone upgrading their lifestyle.

If you want to get accredited as a coach, come and join me at Coach Business School. I am there to guide you through the training and support you every step of the way.

If you are already an accredited coach and want to master the business and marketing side of coaching, join me inside Coach MBA.

I would love to see you in training very soon.

Let’s do this.

In this episode, I share seven powerful ways to not just survive Christmas alcohol free but absolutely love it. This is your chance to step into January already energised, focused, and flying while everyone else is trying to recover from December.

You will learn how to create new Christmas rituals, upgrade your festive drinks, protect your energy, set boundaries with kindness, and give your loved ones the greatest present of all. Your presence.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How to flip the script on Christmas and love it alcohol free
• Why December is the most powerful month to take a break
• Seven practical strategies that make Christmas more joyful
• How to stay energised, connected and fully present
• Why going alcohol free turns you into a connection superpower
• How to show up as the real you for the people you love

Timestamps

00:00 – 02:00 Why Christmas is the ultimate alcohol free challenge
02:00 – 04:00 How December builds bulletproof momentum
04:00 – 06:00 Focusing on the wins instead of what you lose
06:00 – 08:00 Creating new uplifting Christmas rituals
08:00 – 10:00 Upgrading your festive drinks the smart way
10:00 – 12:00 Reclaiming your energy and your time
12:00 – 14:00 Becoming more connected and more present
14:00 – 16:00 Setting boundaries with kindness
16:00 – 18:00 The greatest gift you can give your loved ones
18:00 – End Bringing it all together and stepping into January strong

If you want to train with me and become an accredited coach, check out Coach Business School.
If you are already accredited and want to learn the skills of business and marketing, join me in Coach MBA.
And if you are embracing the alcohol free lifestyle, join DRYY, our incredible community and app.
Plus, for functional festive drinks that elevate your energy without the hangover, visit Authentic Brew.

Let’s do this!

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Mudie to talk about one of the most powerful stories I have ever been part of. Mike went from achieving the biggest professional success of his life straight into complete physical collapse. His body shut down. He could not walk. He could not lift a fork. And no one in traditional medicine could explain why.

What followed was a six-month healing journey into holistic health, nature-based medicine, and reconnection with the body. That journey led to something extraordinary. Together, we explore how his burnout became the birth of Authentic Brew, a functional wellness drink powered by mushrooms, botanicals, and pure Mother Nature.

This conversation is about more than business. It is about listening to your body, understanding burnout, the power of nature, and why sometimes life has to break you before it rebuilds you.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

• What burnout really looks like when your body completely shuts down
• Why traditional medicine sometimes misses the root cause
• How nature and holistic healing helped Mike recover his health
• Why disconnection from nature is making so many people unwell
• The real story behind the creation of Authentic Brew
• Why most so-called energy and health drinks are misleading
• How functional wellness can replace stimulants and alcohol
• Why your darkest moment can become your biggest mission
• How we are using business to rewild people and places

Timestamps: (podcast)

00:00 – 02:40 Introduction and Mike’s background

02:40 – 06:30 Career success followed by complete physical collapse

06:30 – 10:20 When the body shuts down and doctors cannot explain why

10:20 – 14:30 Discovering holistic healing and listening to the body

14:30 – 18:10 Lessons from nature and the path to real recovery

18:10 – 22:30 How burnout became the birth of Authentic Brew

22:30 – 26:00 Functional wellness versus mainstream energy drinks

26:00 – 30:40 Mushrooms, botanicals, and how they change daily performance

30:40 – 35:20 Rewilding people and places through business

35:20 – 40:10 From collapse to contribution and mission

40:10 – End Final reflections, purpose, and what Mike wants people to take away

Links and Resources:

Discover Authentic Brew
If you want to experience a daily dose of wellness powered by Mother Nature and support the mission to rewild people and places, explore Authentic Brew and join the Authentic Brew Crew here:
 👉 authenticbrew.com

Join me at the Coach Business School
If you feel inspired by this episode and want to turn your own life experience into impact through coaching, you can train with me at the Coach Business School. Whether you want to get accredited as a coach or grow your coaching business, I will guide you every step of the way.
 👉 coachbusiness.school

Already Accredited?
Join my Coach MBA: Marketing and Business for Accredited Coaches to build a confident, sustainable, and purpose-driven coaching business.
👉 coachbusiness.school

If this conversation moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Someone on the edge of burnout. Someone on the edge of change. Someone searching for something more real.

Let’s do this.

In this episode, I sit down with Claire MacAskill, someone I have known for many years and watched grow in courage, confidence, and self-belief. Claire has been alcohol-free for seven years, and in that time she has transformed her health, her mindset, and her entire life. From struggling with weekend drinking to becoming a world-class marathon runner in her fifties, her story is one of resilience, consistency, and pure inspiration.

We talk about everything from her early days as a grey-area drinker, to the moment she decided she wanted more from life, to running marathons around the world and qualifying for global championships. Claire’s honesty, vulnerability, and strength shine through every moment of this conversation. If you are looking for proof that life gets bigger, brighter, and more meaningful without alcohol, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Claire went from weekend drinking to seven years alcohol-free
• Why removing alcohol unlocked her best fitness, mindset, and confidence
• How she became fitter and faster in her fifties than in her twenties
• The truth about heart rate, recovery, and how alcohol affects performance
• Why anxiety often disappears when alcohol disappears
• The mindset shift that turned running into her new pub and her new tribe
• How self-development and authenticity became central to her alcohol-free life
• Why is it never too late to step into your full potential

Timestamps

00:00 – 02:00 The three-layer formula
02:00 – 04:00 Seven years alcohol-free
04:00 – 06:00 From NYC hangovers to NYC marathons
06:00 – 08:00 Finding her tribe
08:00 – 11:00 Sliding doors: two possible lives
11:00 – 14:00 The hidden cost of ‘just one’
14:00 – 17:00 Alcohol-free: the real superpower
17:00 – 20:00 Consistency creates confidence
20:00 – 24:00 Reborn at 45
24:00 – End Medals, mindset, and meaning

Links and Resources:

Join me at the Coach Business School:
If this alcohol-free journey has sparked something in you and you want to help others transform their lives, come and train with me at the Coach Business School. Whether you want to get accredited as a coach or you are already qualified and ready to master the business side of coaching, I would love to guide you.
👉 Explore programs and resources at coachbusiness.school

Already accredited?
Take the next step with my Coach MBA: Marketing and Business for Accredited Coaches, the place where I help coaches build thriving and meaningful coaching businesses.
👉 Learn more at coachbusiness.school

If Claire’s story lit something inside you, share this episode, follow the show, and join me in the growing alcohol-free movement.

Let’s do this.