Journey to the Sunnyside | Mindful Drinking & Alcohol Health

Alright, we’re back with doctor Christine Boev—former ICU nurse and the founder of Master Menopause. If you haven’t heard Part One, we broke down what actually shifts after 35—hormones, workouts, body comp—and how to support yourself or your partner through it. In this second half, we start with Christine’s mic-drop moment: ‘alcohol is fertilizer for cortisol.’ We unpack what that means for stress, sleep, recovery, and why even one or two drinks hit harder as we age. You’ll get real tools if you’re not going fully alcohol-free—like what to choose, how to hydrate, how long it actually takes to bounce back, and what swaps are actually worth it. Let’s get into it.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
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Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

Today I’m excited to have Doctor Christine Boev on the show. She comes out of critical care nursing, went on to a PhD, taught as a nursing professor, and now coaches women through her program Master Menopause. In Part One we’re keeping it practical: what really shifts after 35, which symptoms are common vs. not, why chasing fat burn with stressy workouts can work against you, the partner playbook that actually helps, and the basics of hormone replacement therapy so you can have a better conversation with your clinician.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
--
Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

Slipped a little over Labor Day? Or maybe you stayed strong and want to ride that momentum into the week? In this episode, Mike shares 4 mindset resets that help you stop looping in shame, bounce back faster, shrink the challenge into something doable, and use the weekend as information instead of a verdict. Backed by neuroscience and delivered in plain English, these shifts will help you stop overthinking 30 days and start winning the next 30 minutes.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
--
Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

In part two, I’m back with Lila Volkas — Certified Nutrition Consultant and co-creator of Mocktail School. She’s taught Fortune 500 companies how to replace happy hour with wellness-focused mocktail classes. Today, she shares her five-pillar framework for building alcohol-free drinks that actually rival cocktails. You’ll learn how to add complexity, texture, and function, plus the myths she wants to bust and her go-to quick mocktail at home.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
--
Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

Lila Volkas, Certified Nutrition Consultant and co-creator of Mocktail School, is helping Fortune 500 companies swap beer taps for mocktail classes. After cutting out alcohol for her own health, she saw how flat the non-alcoholic world was—and built a better way. In this episode, she shares her journey, why companies are rethinking drinking culture, and how her workshops are changing team connection.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
--
Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

Ever notice how some of your strongest drinking urges hit when absolutely nothing is wrong? You're not stressed or celebrating, just existing on a Friday night, and somehow your brain decides that unstimulated time requires alcohol.

In this episode, I get personal about my own boredom drinking patterns and share the science behind why boredom feels so uncomfortable (hint: it's not about having nothing to do). You'll discover what boredom is really signaling, my simple 10-minute rule for when restlessness hits, and how to work with your brain instead of against it.

Because once you understand what your mind is actually asking for when it whispers "a drink sounds good right now," you can finally give yourself what you actually need.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
--
Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

In Part Two of my conversation with Karin Adoni, nutritionist and author, we dive into real-life strategies for supporting gut health and balancing hormones. Karin shares simple swaps to reduce toxins, boost energy, and feel better day to day. We close with a rapid-fire round of her best tips for sleep, cravings, and mindful living.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
--
Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

This week I’m joined by Karin Adoni, clinical nutritionist, founder of EMII Supplements, and author of three books on clean living. In Part One, Karin shares her powerful journey through eating disorders, how she rebuilt her health, and why food — much like alcohol — can become a way to cope or control. Her story offers deep insights into mindfulness, balance, and what it really means to heal.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
--
Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

In this episode, we zoom out—on the past 30 days, the summer, and even the year so far—to see the real changes you’ve made. Progress isn’t always obvious day to day, but when you step back, the picture looks very different. You’ll learn why your brain is wired to miss small wins, what the science says about tracking change over time, and how Sunnyside members are making lasting shifts. Then, we’ll zoom back in to create a simple action plan you can use this week.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
--
Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.

Welcome back to Part Two of my conversation with my friend Mark Victor Hansen—co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul and author of over a billion books sold worldwide, including his latest, Ask! The Bridge From Your Dreams to Your Destiny, and classics like One Minute Millionaire and The Power of Focus. In Part One, we explored his early inspirations and how he transformed challenges into purpose. Today, we go deeper into the power of habit, the role of mindsets in shaping your reality, and how to build a life so meaningful you won’t want to numb it away. Let’s jump back in.

Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial.
--
Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast: https://bit.ly/4bxCqT3
Subscribe to Sunnyside’s YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3zuoID4

RELATED ARTICLES FROM THE SUNNYSIDE BLOG:

ABOUT SUNNYSIDE: Sunnyside is the #1 alcohol moderation app that helps you drink less without any shame, guilt, or pressure to quit. Optimize your alcohol habits to achieve benefits like sleeping better, losing weight, feeling more energy, and saving money. We know that an all-or-nothing approach doesn’t work for everyone, so we focus on helping you set your own goals, celebrate small wins, and build a lasting system of accountability. As a result, 96.7% of our members see a big drop in their drinking after 90 days.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not intended as medical advice, and the views of the guests may not represent the views of Sunnyside. If you’re concerned about your health or alcohol use, please consider seeking advice from a doctor.