Rejection stings, especially when you're changing your drinking patterns and facing family expectations or shifting friendship dynamics. After being turned down by a podcast host because of my moderation stance, I dive into how the fear of rejection holds us back from making choices that truly serve us. In this episode, we’ll unpack how family expectations, workplace pressure, and the subtle shifts in friendship dynamics can challenge your resolve to drink differently. Tune in to ...
Breaking decades of drinking habits in midlife isn’t about willpower – it’s about understanding triggers, actions, and rewards, and then reshaping them to work in your favour. In this episode, I explore why habits form, why they’re so hard to undo, and how stress plays such a big role in keeping us stuck. I share practical steps to help you swap old autopilot behaviours for new actions that actually bring relief and joy, and why progress, not perfection, is the key. 0:00 Se...
In this episode of the Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife Podcast, I’m busting seven of the biggest myths about moderation and mindful drinking. From the nonsense that drinking has to be “all or nothing,” to the idea that you have to count every single drink forever, or that moderation won’t do anything for your health — I’m setting the record straight. I’ll share why drinking ‘less’ is still real change, how we can reshape decades of midlife habits, and why moderation isn’t ...
This is part two of my mini-series on the true cost of alcohol-free drinks. Last week, we pulled back the curtain on the industry economics — from research and development to supermarket shelf space. This week, I’m shifting the focus to you as the drinker. Yes, an AF pint might cost the same as a full-strength one, but what about the money saved on late-night taxis, hangover takeaways, or rounds of shots? Beyond that, I dig into the personal costs: lost sleep, low mood, missed workouts,...
Time to tackle the question that comes up again and again: why do alcohol-free drinks cost so much when there’s no alcohol in them? This is part one of a two-part mini-series on the true cost of drinking alcohol-free. Today I’m breaking down the industry economics behind your favourite low and no drinks — from the surprising truth that alcohol is often the cheapest ingredient, to the eye-watering costs of research, development, small batch production, and simply getting bottles onto super...
This week I’m joined by Ben Hill, founder of Ask More, a performance Coaching service for professional men looking to up their game across the board, to talk about masculinity, midlife, and moderation. We dive into why so many men still struggle to open up, how beer o’clock has quietly become the male equivalent of “mummy wine culture,” and the surprising amount of time and clarity Ben reclaimed when he stepped back from drinking. From breaking outdated norms to learning how to “stand in ...
Changing the way we drink can reveal who we really are. In this episode, I explore how introverts, extroverts, and ambiverts approach alcohol differently – and how understanding your personality type can help you drink in ways that genuinely suit you. I introduce my Four I’s Framework (Identify, Investigate, Implement, Iterate) to help you match your social energy to your drinking style, so you can enjoy your nights out (or nights in) without draining your social battery or relying on Dutch...
In this solo episode, I’m diving into the loaded topic of moderation — and why it’s not the dirty word so many in the alcohol-free space make it out to be. I’m sharing my own experience with passive moderation, why I never said “I’m quitting alcohol forever,” and how that gentler, more flexible approach led me to a place where I barely drink at all — without feeling deprived or like I’d failed. This episode is for anyone who’s been told moderation doesn’t work, or that taking a break from b...
This week I’m joined by certified nutrition consultant and booze-free mixology expert Lila Volkas, who shares her brilliant five-element framework for making better alcohol-free drinks at home. We get into why creating complexity is trickier without alcohol (and how to work around it), plus how ingredients like apple cider vinegar and citrus peels can completely transform your drink — no fancy kit required. From her early days brewing kombucha in a student flat to leading workshops for glob...
Let’s dive into some little-discussed truths about changing your relationship with alcohol that nobody talks about. From disrupted sleep and mood swings in those first crucial weeks, to navigating shifting friendships and social dynamics, I'm not sugarcoating anything. I explore how your taste buds will literally change, why you'll discover more about yourself than ever before, and how this journey impacts everyone around you - not just you. Most importantly, I address why midlife drinker...
Bill Shufelt, co-founder of Athletic Brewing, joins me to share the remarkable journey behind America's leading non-alcoholic beer brand. From his personal decision to stop drinking 13 years ago to building a business that's now outselling major breweries, Bill's story is one of identifying a genuine market gap and relentlessly pursuing quality. We explore Athletic's brewing philosophy, their expansion into the UK market (including that exciting Arsenal partnership), and why Bill believes n...
Welcome to the Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife Podcast. I'm so glad you're here. We're about to go on a life-changing journey together. The destination: A life less intoxicated! === 🥃 Download your free guide: WHY YOU CAN'T DRINK LIKE YOU USED TO + YOUR NEW 5pm FIX https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/ === 🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset === 💰 Get 10% off drinks at Wise Barten...
In this episode, I’m sharing 10 practical strategies for not just surviving but thriving during any alcohol-free challenge, whether it's Dry January, Sober October, or your own personal experiment. Drawing from years of trial and error plus insights from the Low No Drinker community, I cover everything from prioritising sleep and movement to exploring the brilliant world of alcohol alternatives. This isn't about white-knuckling through 31 days – it's about creating a proper toolkit for su...
I’m flipping the script! To celebrate hitting an astonishing 100 episodes, today, I am testing my skills and interviewing myself. Plus, I share some exciting news about the evolution of the Low No Drinker Podcast! 0:00 Celebrating 100 Episodes 2:49 Motivation 6:30 Toughest episodes 12:39 Best episodes 16:56 Explaining my job to my kids 19:10 Defend big alcohol 22:59 Ridiculous misconceptions 23:52 Controversial opinion 25:37 Too boozy / Too dry 29:02 Moderation is not a dirty word 30:55 Big...
James Grundy, co-founder of Small Beer, joins me to share the fascinating story behind reviving a brewing tradition that vanished over a century ago. After several years building a gin brand, James & partner, former Fuller's brewer Felix James, set out to revive "small beer", historically consumed for nutrition and hydration, with an upper limit of 2.8% ABV. Their mission: to create the perfect middle ground between teetotalism and the spectacular hangovers from increasingly strong cra...
This week, I'm joined by Anita Osborne, the Sales and Marketing Manager for Lyre's Spirit Co. in the EU and UK. Anita takes us behind the scenes of one of the most successful global alcohol-free brands, sharing the highs and lows of building a business that spans over 60 territories. From launching with an ambitious 12 spirits (including an alcohol-free absinthe!) to navigating supply chain nightmares, pirate attacks on the Suez Canal, and strategic downsizing, Anita doesn't hold back a...
Today I’m diving into a question that comes up a lot — is it safe, and is it a good idea, to give alcohol-free drinks to kids? I’m talking specifically about drinks under 0.5% ABV (so not low, light or mid-strength alcohol). I cover the safety aspect first, but more importantly, I explore the bigger question: should we be giving them to kids at all? I share why these drinks aren’t made for children, what message we might be sending if we do give them to our kids, and what to consider when...
Mark Wong joins me to share the journey behind Impossibrew, the functional beer brand that went from Dragon's Den rejection to securing six and then seven-figure crowdfunding. I nosy my way into their proprietary "social blend" of plant-based ingredients designed to replicate that one-or-two-pint feeling without the alcohol, how they've iterated their recipes based on customer feedback, and why Mark believes that despite his immense success, there’s still a lot of work to be done. 0:00 Mar...
This week, I'm diving into the thorny topic of alcohol-free wine and why we need to stop whining about it. Whilst I'm not claiming it's perfect yet, the constant negativity isn't helping anyone. I explore why alcohol-free wine faces unique challenges compared to the meteoric rise of AF beer, from centuries of tradition to higher production costs, and why these passionate producers deserve our support rather than our scorn. It's time to approach alcohol-free wine with curiosity instead o...
This week I'm chatting with Tony Robinson, co-founder of Lifted - the UK's first 0.0% high protein craft lager made for athletes. Tony and his wife, Rebecca, launched their unique offering to solve a problem they were both experiencing - wanting additional protein in their diets whilst enjoying alcohol-free options after workouts. With over 250,000 cans sold and a fiercely loyal customer base, Lifted sits at the intersection of fitness culture and mindful drinking. Tony s...