The Alcohol-Free Advantage with Andy Ramage

Catherine Gray is the author of one of my all-time favourite books, “The Unexpected Joy Is Being Sober.”. Not only is this a great quit-lit book, but it’s also a cracking read.

Since the runaway success of her first book, Catherine went on to write the Unexpected Joy Of Being Single and Unexpected Joy Of Being Ordinary.

So much has happened since we last spoke and I can’t wait to share Catherine’s story, and also talk about her latest book, ‘Sunshine Warm Sober.’

You are going to LOVE this one, so settle in and enjoy the ride.

Alright, let’s do this.

Cassie has a superpower - kindness. I first met Cassie after delivering my first ever TEDX talk, ‘The Limitless Pill.”. We instantly became friends, and Cassie is a key part of everything I do. Especially now I am turning my focus back towards the alcohol-free space. 

Cassie is also the founder of alcohol-free essex, a fantastic mum and a wonderful lady.

I am sure you will find so much you can identify within our conversation about all things alcohol-free.

Alright let’s do this.

Freddie Bennett or Freddie Wellies as I like to call him is an Alcohol-Free Superhero, although he is clearly missing part of his superhero outfit as in most photo’s he is half naked.

Freddie is also a record-breaker. The fastest ever marathon runner. Dramatic pause. Dressed as a fisherman, wellies and all. 

During our conversation, Freddie shares his powerful backstory and how he turned his life and why he is now on a mission to inspire 1 billion people to transform their relationship with alcohol. And I will join them every step of the way.

I love what Freddie and Sharon are doing with the Over The Influence Podcast and the community they are building.  I am a massive supporter of what they are doing and we will do lots together over the coming years.

This is one of those conversations that's full of laughter, emotions, inspiration and a rallying call to all your alcohol adventurers to unite to collectively make a difference in the world.

Alright let’s do this.

Matt Pink, how to socialise without alcohol and LOVE IT!

Matt Pink aka Better_Life_Guy is making waves in the alcohol-free space. His social media is inspiring tons of alcohol-free adventures and the sober curious to have fun, be social and love their AF adventure. 

What I love about Matt’s story is that he trained with me in the early stages of his AF journey and is now out there inspiring many others to do the same. On a personal note - this is my major focus - trying to inspire more people to get out there and inspire others!

To take his development to the next level, Matt will also train with me again to become an accredited coach to add a world-class qualification and even more credibility to what he is doing in the alcohol-free space.

I am super proud of what he has achieved and will always be a massive supporter.

On September the 18th, Matt is hosting, in his words, ‘The first-ever no-booze cruise up the Thames in London.” Since the time of recording this event has sold out many times over.

I will be joining Matt on the 18th throwing some shapes, well maybe not, and having a great time without any booze in sight!

You will love this chat about sober socialising with Matt and why we believe when you stop drinking your social life gets even better!

Alright let’s do this!

Dave Cornthwaite, Say Yes More to adventure!

Dave Cornthwaite started saying yes to adventures in his mid-twenties and created a lifetime mission called the Expedition1000 with the aim of completing twenty-five different journeys, each over 1000 miles, spending less than £1000 and using a different form of non-motorised transport. So far he has completed fifteen, just ten to go! And these amazing adventures take a lot less time than you think. 

So what’s stopping you and what’s stopping me from great adventures?

The biggest barrier is our mindset. 

We are too quick to say no to adventures and close down the possibility. 

When Dave asked a group of people if they wanted to go wild camping too many said no, but some said yes! Those who attended the impromptu camping session were encouraged to say yes more, which inspired Dave to start a movement called, ‘SayYesMore’

The SayYesMore movement has over 10,000 members from all over the world. They even have their own festival called the ‘Yestival’.

Dave’s message is so powerful - what would happen if you started to say yes to adventure more often?

Alright, let’s do this.

https://youtu.be/uFZwEMQq-v8

Nick Littlehales - World’s first sleep coach, busting the 8-hour sleep myth!

Nick Littlehales went from a slumberland sales executive to the world's first-ever sleep coach with Manchester United. Alex Fergeson had heard of his groundbreaking ideas about sleep and performance and brought him in seeking the marginal gains that make all the difference. Which they did and Nick was present for the class of 1992 treble-winning side! 

Following the success his sleep coaching skills had achieved in professional football, Nick was asked to become the sleep coach for the Team GB cycling team, which produced one of the greatest ever cycling performances in the 2012 Olympics. 

But it gets better, Nick was then instrumental in the marginal gains philosophy that Sir David Brailsford brought to Team Sky in a bid to be the first-ever British team to win the Tour De France, which they did.

And if there was a symbol of this philosophy it was seeing the rider’s mattresses being ferried from hotel to hotel to optimize their sleep. This was Nick's idea!

Nick has a brilliant story and tons of wisdom to share, you are going to love this one!

Alright let’s do this,

Andy 

https://youtu.be/GXZ6iXgmw5A

Jo Hall - Finding the courage to help transform the wellbeing of the NHS

Just a few months ago Jo Hall was working extremely hard as part of an NHS team when something happened that was to change the course of Jo’s life.

It started with a proactive break from alcohol, which led to a personal development journey and health transformation. As part of this adventure, Jo committed to training with me and is now a member of our fantastic self-development community the Mind&Body Gym and is currently training with us on the AreteWay Coach accreditation to become a coach.

Jo could see that while the amazing NHS staff and partners were giving their all to keep everyone else healthy, they were suffering themselves.

As you will discover during our chat, Jo found the courage to take a gamble and approach her manager with an idea that might help improve the well-being of the overworked NHS staff and partners.

Jo’s courage paid off and led to the creation of 'Live Life Connected' a new personal development programme that's already reached over 45,000 NHS staff and partners with the aim of transforming their wellbeing and I am so proud to be a part of this brilliant initiative!!

Jo’s great story is a wonderful example of how collectively we can move the needle in a positive direction. 

You will love this conversation as we follow Jo from her moment of struggle to the point at which she is now on the verge of rolling ‘The Live Life Connected’ out to many thousands more!

Alright, let’s do this!

Christian Dailly: Footballer on how to age strong, increase longevity and optimise your weight to feel good and look great!

If you want to age strong, protect against disease, reduce inflammation,  increase longevity whilst also optimising your weight to look and feel great then you have to hear this message. 

Christian Dailly, former West Ham and Scotland Captain has a new passion in life - helping athletes and people just like you to live strong and healthy.

Since retiring from football almost 15 years ago Christian retrained in sports science, nutrition and exercise science while coaching world-class athletes to elite performance. 

As part of his evolution from elite footballer to world-class health & fitness coach, Christian created the “Zone1 Health and Longevity Centre”, which is a blueprint for optimal health to protect against disease, increase longevity, optimise your weight so you look and feel great.

*If you want to know more follow @zone1health on Instagram & Facebook.

On this note, I am helping Christian and the Zone1 team deliver a virtual and in-person half-day masterclass on the Zone1 Health & Longevity Formula at the end of August. DO NOT MISS THIS! It is world-class and something I believe everyone should know about.

Here’s a quick overview of what you will get on the masterclass

Understand how your heart works, how to protect it and how to make it stronger than ever.

Learn how to use the Z1-HR formula to train in the right heart rate zones, and why 80% of the Zone1 formula is based on Zone1 heart rate training.

Find out how to AVOID the heart rate black hole, by skillfully using your zone1 HR knowledge.

Discover the dangers of exercise following alcohol intake, and how the Z1-HR formula can protect you while building you to optimal health.

Reduce inflammation, optimise weight, and protect against disease with the Zone1 nutritional strategy. 

Create natural energy in your body by burning fat, so you can LOVE LIFE more!

Master the techniques to protect your body & mind against decline.

Learn how your strength ratios between the upper body and lower body can predict ill health and equally be improved to promote health. 

Overcome the barriers to health - self-management, by learning exactly how to create your own health and longevity plan.  

Learn the skills to transform your health and perform at an elite level should you wish.

This masterclass is exclusive for listeners of this podcast and those who follow me. 

Head to andyramage.com and select courses - zone1 to find out more and sign up.

Also, make sure to follow the Zone1 team on Instagram and Facebook Zone1Health.

What I love about Christian’s formula is that they treat everyone like an athlete, because all humans both respond in the same way to a set of health pre-conditions. 

Once you know how to create these preconditions you optimise your health. It’s that simple. 

These health pre-conditions create the same foundation an athlete requires to win gold, and the everyday hero needs to protect against disease, age strong and flourish mentally and physically. 

I have been trying to bring Christians “Zone1 Health and Longevity Formula” into the mainstream for years as his approach is not just excellent, it is WORLD CLASS! So make sure to come and join us.

If you want to know how to take back control of your health and learn how to LIVE young and strong to look and feel years younger then this conversation is a great place to start.

Alright, let’s do this!

Andy 

Jenny Thompson - Why growing your own vegetables is our greatest well-being tool

When I first read the ‘Blue Zones: 9 Lessons For Living Longer, by People Who Have Lived the Longest’’ by Dan Buettner, which explores the pockets of people who live the longest, healthy and thriving lives, I noticed a trend.

Many of these healthy outliers, who were fit as fiddles into their 90’s and beyond all grew their own vegetables. 

This observation sat in my mind for years, until I met with Nick Littlehales, the world's leading sleep coach.. Nick, who will also appear on the podcast,  and I started to talk about the benefits of natural daylight on the body. This was followed by a workshop with our ongoing self-development community the MBG with the chairman of the UK’s forest bathing committee Gary Evans, who explained the almost unbelievable health benefits of time spent in nature. 

Next, I reflected on my podcast chat with Dr Alan Desmond in the first episode, who explored the science and benefits behind plant-based nutrition.

Then, finally, the penny dropped.

Growing your own fruit and veg could be one of the best activities that we could all possibly partake in. 

And that's exactly what Jenny and I will explore in this episode. 

Jenny’s Instagram, The_Organic_Allotment_Girl is one of my favourites. Jenny’s posts inspire me every day and she has such a great story that I can’t wait to share it with you all.

You will love this chat, and I am positive you might even be tempted to take part in the latest wellbeing craze and grow your own. 

Alright 

Let’s do this.

Drew Schapper, PhD rockstar still rocking the after party alcohol-free!

There is almost an expectation for our rockstars and creatives to be hardcore partying, addicted messes, who find genius at the bottom of a glass. Drew Schapper followed the well worn path to the verge of destruction. 

But something happened, which we will explore during our conversation, that changed the course of his life.

Drew has just written a beautiful book, ‘After Party: The Path to Sobriety’, which showcases the real brutal essence of rock star addiction, and how Drew fought back to sobriety and wants to inspire millions of others to do the same.

I have known Drew since the very start of his alcohol-free adventure, when he decided to take a OneYearNoBeer challenge. From his first post you could feel his pain and artistry shining through. His facebook posts into our group became legendary for their honesty and prose. 

Even though I have stepped down from OneYearNoBeer to start various new initiatives to help people reach their full potential, I feel so privileged that we started a movement that’s inspired people such as Drew, who in turn is now attempting to inspire millions!

During this conversation we explore the full crazy tale of how Drew went from a Phd, to a rockstar, to a sobriety superhero. 

Drew is charming, articulate and has a powerful message to share. I feel privileged to be even a tiny part of his story and what a story it is.

So strap yourself in. This is a roller coaster ride. 

Alright let's do this