One Year No Beer | Hack Your Healthy Lifestyle

How do you know when a fun social habit has turned into a problem? On today’s episode of One Year No Beer, we’re going to hear about  the journey of Freddie Bennett-Willetts from a social drinker, to a heavy drinker, to a world record holder. Freddie talks about his journey, his past with alcohol, the excuses we make, the “perfect time” to start, and about the benefits of going alcohol-free. You might know Freddie as the “guy in the fisherman’s costume,” but around the office, he was known as the heavy drinker and the party-boy who was destroying himself. After changing his perception of his life, he let his journey change his life for the better. “To get the things you’ve always wanted, you have to do the things you’ve never done before.” Freddie delves into his history with social drinking as a teen in the 90’s. His social drinking quickly spiraled into a habit. While he was a well-behaved teen, he didn’t realize that his life was filled with drinking and heavy drinkers. As an adult—and after his father’

This podcast is being reposted as a tribute to Sean, self-help author, therapist, and motivational speaker, who sadly died on Wednesday, August 28 2019, due to complications after suffering a head injury.  It can be easy to get sidetracked by your own fears, insecurities, and troubles. This may be especially true when you’re trying to accomplish something big, like giving up alcohol for a period of time. Without meaning to, you can begin to slide into negativity, allowing your fears and problems to take over and lapsing into unwanted behaviors or temptations. It can be hard to bring yourself back up when you’re going through those dark times and experiencing negative emotions. But today’s guest has some ideas about how to bounce back, take care of yourself, and make a positive impact on the world around you. Dr. Sean Stephenson was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a condition that is otherwise known as brittle bone syndrome. By the time he was 18 years old, he had already broken over 200 bones in his bod

What is happening in your gut when you drink alcohol? If you’ve never thought about it, now is the time to give it some thought. On today’s episode of One Year No Beer, Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum explains what an imbalance in the gut biome is, what happens when you have an imbalance, and what alcohol has to do with it.    Dr. Ghannoum is the author of the book Total Gut Balance. He explains how people get involved with his organization, Biohm, and what happens when people have a gut imbalance. He explains that people usually want to know what they can do to rebalance their gut – which foods and lifestyle changes will help.    “I direct the center for medical mycology which is the fungal research. That’s why I’m known as a fun guy.”  Dr. Ghannoum also talks about the role that alcohol plays in the gut biome, especially in relation to problems like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Dr. Ghannoum explains that gut bacteria isn’t the only factor to consider – factors like genetics and lifestyle play a role as well – bu

No one has unlimited time in this world to do all of the things that they may want to do, so why waste time? Today’s guest says that he plans to live to 100, and understands that if he wants to work and build and create all the things that he wants to do in that time, then it’s important to get started now.  Richie Crowley has been alcohol-free for about two years now. He stresses the importance of health, wellness, meditation, and connecting with others. Richie points out that while people often encourage their friends to leave toxic relationships and workplaces, they don’t necessarily encourage them to change toxic ways of living, and that the relationship with alcohol is a toxic one for many people.  “There’s just so many different things that I want to build and create and work on and be a part of in this life, that I look at and say hey, the clock is ticking in a way, let me start doing it all.”  In today’s episode, Richie talks about his current adventure, a bike ride across America. Richie will be s

Today’s guest is a motivational speaker, business coach, and bestselling author. Pete Cohen joins the One Year No Beer podcast to talk about addiction, delayed gratification, and meditation, among other things.  Pete describes his own background when it comes to drinking. He says that he began drinking at around age 14 and that the pub he went to never asked for ID until shortly before he turned 18. Pete also says that drugs were accessible and available where he lived, but some early bad experiences prevented him from getting seriously involved. Pete says that his college was a sports college with a heavy drinking culture. Now, however, Pete says that he values feeling healthy and being able to get up early in the morning more than he wants to drink. Pete worked as a personal trainer and got a degree in sport science. He says that his goal is to help give people a different perspective.  “For me, I just love getting to that place where I feel like there’s possibility.” On the subject of willpower, Pete sa

Getting through a 365-day challenge is no small feat. It’s an achievement that deserves to be celebrated. And what’s the best way to celebrate an alcohol-free year? Why not with a Spartan race?  In today’s episode, Ruari talks to Zoe Grant and Sharon Hartley not only about their experiences going alcohol-free but also about their experiences running a Spartan Race. The interview was recorded in a tent at a Spartan event, shortly after Zoe finished her first race. And though she signed up for the race much earlier, the event itself came just after finishing her one year challenge. “I knew it was like the ultimate, ultimate celebration, actually. And I knew I’d cry.” Zoe talks about herself and her experiences before joining One Year No Beer. She says that she was a low-level constant drinker, drinking just one glass a night, every night. She realized later that the alcohol was keeping her anxiety high, but without it, she was happier and less anxious. She explains that things have changed a lot over the las

If you’re new to One Year No Beer, or if you’re just considering taking a challenge and starting to change your relationship with alcohol, you may be wondering not just about the short-term challenge, but what going alcohol-free might look like in the long term. In today’s episode, you’ll hear from a long-time member of One Year No Beer about her journey from her first challenge in 2017 to now.  Louise Vickers discovered One Year No Beer in January of 2017. She had done Dry January a few times before and was planning on doing it again, so she decided to go to a party and drink on December 31st. The night ended with Louise breaking several of her toes. She describes herself sitting on her couch the next day, resting her sore foot and scrolling through Facebook, when she came across an ad for One Year No Beer and decided to give it a try.  “I think me finding me took longer than 90 days. It maybe even took longer than the 365.”  Louise started out with a 90-day challenge and then decided to try the 365-day c

Everyone knows about rehabilitation facilities and Alcoholics Anonymous, but what is out there for people who want to live a healthier, alcohol-free life or who want to moderate their drinking, but aren’t in need of interventions or total permanent abstinence? One Year No Beer provides one community for people in those situations, and today’s guest is also helping to create a community by hosting events for the sober curious and talking about her own journey with alcohol and with giving up alcohol.  Janey Lee Grace is a television presenter and radio personality who’s been featured on BBC Radio 2. She was a singer who toured with Wham and performed alongside artists like Boy George and George Michael. Today, she’s a journalist and an alcohol-free inspirationalist. “You actually get younger when you get sober.”  Janey says that when you give up drinking, you’re actually giving more than you’re giving up. Abstaining from alcohol improves health and relationships and reduces anxiety. Janey says that even her

The stories of One Year No Beer members themselves can be some of the most powerful and compelling evidence for people who want to learn about how One Year No Beer works. On today’s episode, you’ll hear one of those personal stories from Sharon Hartley, a One Year No Beer member who joined eight months ago.  Sharon is a married mother of three from Lancashire. She has a background in broadcast journalism, and says that she got used to the culture of parties and freebies when she was working in radio. She used to be a regular drinker – the first to arrive at a party and the last to leave – who preferred rose wine and vodka with red bull. “Be brave and be bold and do what you’ve got to do.”  Sharon says that she didn’t have a dramatic experience of hitting bottom before she signed up for One Year No Beer. She just found that more and more of her life was revolving around alcohol, and that it was causing conflict within her family. She also found that she was becoming bored of drinking. She enjoys a challenge

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

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.  Ju

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,

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 perso

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 maki

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 bet

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 es

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 i

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 a

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 r

Will Polston is an award-winning mindset strategist and the founder of Make It Happen, an organization that works to help its clients gain clarity, take action, stay accountable, and make a difference as they make their way to the lifestyle that they want. He’s worked with celebrities, athletes, business owners, and regular people at low points in their life to help them reach the goals that they wanted to achieve. Will was on a mission to find success when he got into the field of personal development, but he found that working in personal development allowed him to do something more important than just making money – it allowed him to help people as well. “I believe we do more for others than we do for ourselves.”  In today’s interview, Will talks about his decision to give up alcohol, and why he decided to do so. Will wants to pay his mother the money that she would need to retire, and he believes that he’ll reach that goal faster if he isn’t drinking. He describes how, when he was drinking on the weeken