OYNB Podcast

In today’s episode of the One Year No Beer Podcast, Ruari is trying out a new format. Rather than interviewing a guest, Ruari is going to spend some time talking about the community and some of the things that are going on with the OYNB community and its members. 

First of all, Ruari shares some updates from the OYNB HQ, including the fact that OYNB has expanded to about 16 full-time members of the team. There’s also a new community manager, and OYNB members should expect to see some big changes over the next three months. 

“It’s an interesting journey, this changing your relationship with alcohol. It’s different for everybody.” 

Ruari also mentions that he’s noticed several people sharing stories of grief and personal loss in the community recently. He talks about how his experience with grief was to continue down the same destructive path that he was on before. Ruari believes that this is not unusual – heavy drinking is a common element of funerals and wakes, for example. But as Ruari points out, alcohol is a depressant, and adding it to a situation that’s already upsetting can cause a person to spiral. 

Ruari believes that the answer is to really get in touch with your feelings and find a safe space in which to feel them. He recommends a book, Focusing by Eugene Gendlin, that was recommended to him by a counselor in his youth and that he believes can help people trying to get in touch with their feelings. 

Ruari suggests contacting the Samaritans (at 116 123 in the UK) for people who are in need of someone to talk to. He also reminds listeners that they can contact [email protected] for help and that they’re planning to relaunch their coaching program very soon. 

Ruari believes that connections are an important part of the answer to dealing with addictions, as well as an important part of the One Year No Beer mission. He explains that OYNB is heavily invested in their partnership with Spartan, and they’re going to have a presence at every Spartan in the UK, as well as some in the US. The next upcoming Spartan is in early May and will be held in Kent, and OYNB will be there with a tent, providing an excellent opportunity for members of the OYNB community to meet and make connections. 

LINKS & RESOURCES 

OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer/

Email: [email protected]

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If you or someone close to you has ever tried to give up alcohol for a stretch of time, you know that it can be a challenge, and hitting an anniversary or another milestone is a real achievement. Have you ever wanted to celebrate a sober achievement with someone? If so, you may have looked for a greeting card to commemorate the occasion – and if you did that, you probably noticed that there weren’t many choices. Today’s guest made that very discovery, then decided to do something about it. 

Lucy Wilkins and her business partner Sara Bender both had people in their lives who had struggled with drinking. When Lucy went looking for a greeting card to celebrate her loved one’s 100 days sober, she was temporarily stymied when she couldn’t find what she was looking for. When she talked it over with Sara, they decided to start making their own cards for the sober space. Their company is called We Are In Good Co. 

“We’re just saying, just make space for the people those cards aren’t relevant or appropriate for.  Just make space for the sober cards.”

Lucy explains that attitudes around sobriety are changing and younger people are more likely to be open and celebrate their sobriety, where older generations are more likely to hold their sober status close to the vest. 

As Lucy points out, sobriety doesn’t necessarily have to be a response to addiction or bad experiences with alcohol – going alcohol-free is a lifestyle choice, and many people choose it because they prefer it or because it’s healthier. 

Lucy and Sara have run into some challenges distributing their cards because some people assume that their niche is too small. However, they believe that the sober niche is growing, and the feedback they receive suggests that there are people out there searching for the type of fun, sober greetings offered by We Are In Good Co. 

LINKS & RESOURCES 

OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer/ 

LUCY WILKINS’ LINKS & RESOURCES 

We Are In Good Co.: https://weareingood.co/

We Are In Good Co. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareingoodco/

We Are In Good Co. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weareingoodcom

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Joining the One Year No Beer podcast today is Eric Edmeades, a true serial entrepreneur. Over the past 20 years, Eric has started, bought, sold, and turned around businesses in 6 different countries. He’s also a speaker who has spent more than 10,000 hours on stages across 20 countries, and a trailblazer in the food revolution. 

In today’s interview, Eric explains how he ended up becoming a serial entrepreneur. His story begins with graduating high school and not having the means to go to college – he had to go straight into the workforce instead. A bad experience early on resulted in Eric taking his future into his own hands and creating his first business.

“The more intense your emotional response to the idea that you need to be taking a break from alcohol, the more you need to be taking a little bit of a break from alcohol.” 

Eric’s nutrition program WildFit is the culmination of years of interest in diet and nutritional anthropology. As a teenager and into his early 20s, Eric struggled with allergies, acne, digestive issues, and other problems. Eventually, he was able to turn his health problems around with diet. WildFit is Eric’s effort to share what he’s learned with others. He has a passion for helping adults and children achieve optimal health through diet. 

Eric explains that WildFit is not a weight loss program, but that it is effective at helping overweight participants to lose weight. People who successfully use WildFit range from ordinary people who are simply overweight or lacking energy to high-performance athletes to people struggling with serious health conditions like diabetes and cancer. 

WildFit asks participants to change their relationship with food, and with alcohol as well. The idea is to make long-term, lasting dietary changes that lead to a healthier life overall. Eric is looking forward to moving WildFit to a more mainstream audience. There is currently a docu-series in development that will chronicle the entire journey through the program. Eric will also be doing a webinar with One Year No Beer for people interested in the WildFit program. 

LINKS & RESOURCES 

OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer/ 

 

ERIC EDMEADES’ LINKS & RESOURCES 

Eric’s Website: https://ericedmeades.com/

WildFit: https://getwildfit.com/

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Giving up alcohol and other substances can help clear your mind and allow you to see things that you couldn’t see before. But once that’s accomplished, what do you do? What are your gifts? What’s your purpose? Today’s guest knows something about how you can find out. 

Kitty Waters spent years working in the city in a recruitment business, and while she may have looked successful during that time, she wasn’t happy. Kitty had a nervous breakdown at 22, precipitated by an affair, and while she sought help, she didn’t really make the kinds of changes that would lead to long-term happiness. Instead, she masked her feelings with binge-drinking and cocaine use. Her wakeup call wouldn’t come until she reached the age of 28, when she discovered a family history of depression amidst her mother’s depressive crisis and suicide attempt. 

“I kind of covered up my pain and my chronic depression with drug and alcohol problems.”

In an effort to give up the drinking and drugs, Kitty seized on a challenge. She joined a personal development group and decided to participate in group trip to Kilimanjaro. Training to climb a mountain replaced alcohol and drugs. 

It was on the mountain that Kitty became inspired to begin her own organization. Kitty’s 8-week online course, Do Your Dharma, is based around the concept of dharma from Vedic texts, where dharma means the right path of action for the individual and for humanity at the same time. 

Kitty explains that her course is meant to help people reconnect to their true selves, discover their purpose in life, and create a vision for what their life is going to be going forward. She explains that in the philosophy of dharma, each person is unique, and it’s each individual’s job to discover their own passions. Listen to the episode to hear more about Kitty’s story and her organization. 

LINKS & RESOURCES 

OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer/ 

KITTY WATERS’S LINKS & RESOURCES 

Kitty’s Website: https://kittywaters.com/home

 

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On today’s episode of One Year, No Beer, guest Rob Fink will be joining the podcast to talk about alcohol-free, nonalcoholic, and 0.5% beers. Rob Fink is the founder and CEO of Big Drop Brewing. However, he wasn’t always the founder of a brewing company. Rob is a lawyer by trade, and when he and another lawyer set up their office in a city, Rob had to go out and meet with clients to bring in business. This meant meetings in pubs and bars and led to a lot of drinking. When Rob’s son was born, he decided to give up alcohol for a while and quit drinking for seven months. However, he still wanted to be able to enjoy a beverage when he was out. 

Rob found himself bored with the nonalcoholic options available in local establishments. He prefers to drink stouts, and couldn’t find nonalcoholic stouts offered anywhere. This gap in the market was what gave him the idea to begin his own brewing company. 

“I scoured the bars, scoured the internet, and I just could not find anybody, dare I say in the world, who was making an alcohol-free stout. And I just thought, why not?” 

In today’s interview, Rob describes more about the process of making low-alcohol beer and the different styles of beer that Big Drop Brewing Company makes. He also talks about why the beer is labeled low-alcohol or .05% alcohol. As Rob explains, beer cannot be called alcohol-free in the UK unless it has 0.05% alcohol or less. However, it’s impossible to make 0.05% beer using the normal brewing process. Therefore, in the UK, Big Drip Brewing beer that has 0.5% alcohol must be labeled low-alcohol instead. However, in the EU, 0.5% alcohol beer is classed as alcohol-free, and in Canada, 0.5% alcohol is called nonalcoholic. As Rob points out, at 0.5% AVB, it’s nearly impossible to drink enough to reach the legal drinking while driving limit. 

Rob also talks about his own experience going alcohol-free. He says that he lost about 10 kilos in seven months, slept better, and felt generally healthier during the seven months when he gave up alcohol. He’s now beginning One Year No Beer’s 365 challenge, and he says that it’s helpful to know that he can now give up alcohol while still enjoying a great-tasting low-alcohol beer. He also shares details about how his business has expanded over the previous year, and where Big Drop Brewing Company’s beers may be found in the future. 

LINKS & RESOURCES 

OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer/

ROB FINK’S LINKS & RESOURCES

 Big Drop Brewing Co.: https://www.bigdropbrew.com/

Where to Buy Big Drop Brewing Beer: https://www.bigdropbrew.com/where-to-buy

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One thing that can be seen over and over again is that changing the way you incorporate alcohol into your life, whether that means quitting drinking entirely or simply becoming more mindful about when and where you choose to drink, can have a big positive impact on your overall health. People often describe feeling more energetic and clear-headed when they give up alcohol. But why stop there? Changing your diet can also have a big impact on your health. Today’s guest has expert information on the benefits of switching to a whole food plant-based diet. 

Dr. Alan Desmond is a Consultant Gastroenterologist certified in Gastroenterology and General Internal Medicine. For years, Dr. Desmond has helped patients with a variety of digestive problems, including coeliac disease, diverticular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. 

“All of the medical evidence is really pointing us toward the fact that the more whole foods and plant-based foods you consume on a daily basis, the better. It’s a win-win.” 

Additionally, Dr. Desmond is an Advisory Board Member of Plant-based Health Professionals UK, a charity that educated doctors, Health Professionals and members of the public on the health benefits of a plant-based diet. He can often be found on Instagram, answering questions and sharing pictures of delicious plant-based meals, complete with cooking instructions and interesting scientific information about the food. 

In today’s interview, Dr. Desmond talks about how the body is affected by diet and why medical science suggests that a whole food plant-based diet is the best choice for the body. He explains how this type of diet helps to maintain the gut microbiome, and how beneficial gut bacteria can help keep the body healthy and aid digestion. 

Dr. Desmond also talks about his new venture, the Happy Gut Course. This is a project that was launched in January 2019 in partnership with dietician Rosie Martin and plant-based chefs Stephen and David Flynn of The Happy Pear. The Happy Gut is a 6-week online course that teaches students about the gut health benefits of a whole food plant-based diet. Students will have access to recipes, meal plans, shopping lists, educational modules, live Q&A's and online support. Listen to the episode to hear more about Dr. Desmond’s work. ONYB members who want to enroll in The Happy Gut Course can use a special coupon code, ONYB20, for 20% off. 

LINKS & RESOURCES 

OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer/ 

ALAN DESMOND’S LINKS & RESOURCES 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devongutdoctor/?hl=en

The Happy Gut Course: https://courses.thehappypear.ie/happy-gut/

Free Happy Gut Guide: https://thehappypear.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/THE-HAPPY-GUT-GUIDE.pdf

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Changing your relationship with alcohol changes a lot of other things as well, including the way you related to other people. And when it comes to dating, cutting out or limiting alcohol can be a dramatic change, because so many date scenarios include – or are even centered around – alcohol. Today’s guest brings an important perspective to the conversation around alcohol-free dating.

Dalya Heron Brook is a Transformational Coach who has a special focus on dating and intimate relationships. She works as a professional matchmaker with Asprey Introductions and is featured on the television show The Ultimate Matchmaker, in addition to her work as a coach.

“You definitely, definitely create more opportunity for yourself, in my opinion, by going on a date sober. Even if you are a drinker.”

In today’s episode, Dalya talks about her work and how she became a Transformational coach after an intensive 3-year course of study with her own coach, in addition to studying with other wellness gurus. Dalya explains that eschewing alcohol in a dating situation can help by bringing more clarity to the situation, which can help you make more informed decisions.

Dalya acknowledges that it can be awkward to talk to a date about not drinking and choosing activities that don’t involve drinking. However, she points out that this can be a way of weeding out potential dates who are inclined to be judgmental of your choices. What’s more, she explains that revealing your decision to avoid alcohol can be a bonding moment, as you’re showing a willingness to be vulnerable.

Dalya goes on to talk about how being alcohol-free can affect intimate situations. She explains that alcohol suppresses the nervous system, preventing you from feeling as much physical. She points out that without alcohol to suppress your physical sensations, physical intimacy can be a more sensual experience.

Dalya also talks about the book she’s working on, which is about evolving through the break-up process. Dalya believes that a break-up is a painful moment, but also a powerful one. In her book, she is exploring the different phases of a break-up, as well as including information about self-care and coaching.

LINKS & RESOURCES 

OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer/

DALYA’S LINKS & RESOURCES

Website: https://dalyaheronbrook.com/about-dalya-heron-brook/

Email: [email protected]

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It’s easy to imagine the world in black and white terms, especially when it comes to things like alcohol use. However, there are always gray areas, and questioning your drinking doesn’t necessarily mean that you need rehab or AA. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you should keep drinking the way you are now, either. Today’s guest calls this “sober curiosity.”

Ruby Warrington is a British writer who currently lives and works in New York. She was the former Features Editor of the UK Sunday Times Style supplement. She is the Founder of The Numinous, and the author of two books: Material Girl, Mystical World: The New Age Guide to a High Vibe Life, and Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Laser Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol. Ruby is also the co-founder of an online spiritual mentoring program Moon Club and the “sober curious” events series Club SÖDA (Sober Or Debating Abstinence) NYC.

“For me, ultimately removing substances is cultivating more presence in my life.”

In today’s episode, Ruby talks about her experiences both before and after changing her relationship with alcohol. She describes dealing with mounting anxiety, unhappiness, and a feeling of purposelessness, despite her successful career in media, and she talks about making the decision to move to New York in the middle of this existential crisis.

Ruby said that she’d checked out AA in the past, but that the stories there didn’t reflect her own experiences with alcohol. She knew that there must be others like her, and that’s why she partnered with a meditation coach and began arranging events for the sober curious.

Ruby also talks about triggers and FOMA (Fear of Missing Alcohol) that people might experience at events when they’re trying to avoid drinking themselves. Ruby explains that her best advice is to accept and acknowledge your feelings, but don’t avoid the situations. Allow yourself to feel whatever you feel, then keep going, and remember that most other people in the room would feel the same way if the alcohol were removed. Listen to the episode to hear more about Ruby and her work.

LINKS & RESOURCES 

OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer/

RUBY’S LINKS & RESOURCES

WEBSITESwww.the-numinous.comwww.rubywarrington.comwww.clubsoda.nyc

INSTAGRAMwww.instagram.com/rubywarrington www.instagram.com/the_numinous

FACEBOOKhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/clubsodanyc/ https://www.facebook.com/thenuminousmagazine/

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Things are happening at One Year No Beer HQ. Before introducing today’s guest, Ruari has an update about some recent fundraising activities and about some of the changes and growth coming to ONYB. Keep an eye out for some new and exciting things coming in 2019. And now that the holiday season is underway, new listeners to ONYB may want to go back and look at older podcasts from around this type of year for tips, tricks, and advice to help you handle alcohol-free Christmas and holiday parties and ways to have a fun and festive season without alcohol.

Today’s guest is Ajit Nawalkha. Ajit is a speaker, coach, author, and entrepreneur who co-founded Mindvalley Teach and the Global Grit Institute. In today’s discussion, Ajit describes his background growing up in Jaipur in a household of 23 people. Ajit talks about how he began joining organizations that promised opportunities for growth and learning and began to interact with international communities. Ajit started a social network in India before Facebook was available in India, and he talks about what that experience was like.

“What has happened in the modern times is we have become so obsessed with creating a living that we have forgotten to live a life.”

Ajit talks about his book, The Book of Coaching. He explains how he noticed that coaches who could be very helpful to other people were often left behind themselves, especially financially. Ajit wanted to find a way to change that. He discovered that while there was a lot of talk about education for coaches, there was a lack of powerful conduct that focused on fundamentals aimed at coaches.

Ajit says that there are three things that coaches need to know. The first is that they have to work on themselves constantly because all business is personal. The second is that they need to have a solid methodology. The third is that coaching is not something you do freelance. It’s a business and should be treated like one. These ideas were what formed the basis of his book for coaches.

Ajit also talks about Mindvalley, the educational platform that he helped create that offers a new and different way to access education. He also talks about Evercoach, a platform for coaches that allows them to connect with each other and with experts and entrepreneurs to learn about business and make changes in their own business models. Finally, Ajit talks about his newest book, Live Big. Live Big discusses 3 elements that Ajit believes can help entrepreneurs, coaches, and experts to expand their businesses, increase their profits, and do good in the world. Listen to the episode to hear more about Ajit’s businesses, books, and personal story.

LINKS & RESOURCES OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer

AJIT’S LINKS & RESOURCES Ajit Nawalkha: https://www.ajitnawalkha.com/

The Book of Coaching: For Extraordinary Coaches: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Coaching-Extraordinary-Coaches/dp/0999366505

Live Big: https://www.globalgritinstitute.com/live-big/

Mindvalley: https://www.mindvalley.com/

Mindvalley YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg3F5jxUrSvJQICen48cX4w

Ajit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajitnawalkha/?hl=en

Ajit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ajitnawalkhaofficial/

Ajit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajitnawalkha

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Weekends can be tough. For people who struggle with their habits around alcohol consumption, weekends can be especially difficult because of the way they feel after drinking too much on Friday or Saturday nights. Today’s guest understands what it’s like to struggle with Sundays. Emma Mainoo is the founder of the mental health platform Surviving Sundays. The platform came about because of Emma’s own struggle with her mental health. She notes that Sundays were usually her hardest days.

“In my case, I was for years, hiding the fact that I wasn’t quite OK. I wasn’t being authentic and that in itself, whatever you’re hiding from will come and get you in the end, in one way or another, I believe.”

In today’s episode, Emma talks about her experiences, and about the importance of being authentic and truthful with yourself and others. We discuss the comfort available in sharing stories with others, and how encouraging it can be to learn that others have similar stories and experiences.

Emma also discusses her own relationship with alcohol. She shares that she plans on starting an alcohol-free challenge in the new year, and talks about the difficulty of deciding whether to start with a 28-day challenge or a 90-day challenge. She also talks about her previous alcohol-free experiences. Emma says that when she posts about alcohol on her site or on Instagram, those posts get the most interactions in terms of likes, comments, and DMs, but that it’s also common to lose followers over posts about alcohol. This shows what a sensitive and important subject it can be. Listen to the episode to hear more about Emma and Surviving Sundays.

LINKS & RESOURCES OYNB Website: https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/

OYNB Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Oneyearnobeer/

OYNB Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199505820380513/

OYNB Twitter: https://twitter.com/oynbuk/

OYNB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneyearnobeer

EMMA’S LINKS & RESOURCES Surviving Sundays: https://www.survivingsundays.com/

Surviving Sundays on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surviving_sundays/

Surviving Sundays on Twitter: https://twitter.com/survivesundays

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