Journey to the Sunnyside | Mindful Drinking & Alcohol Health

Once you understand what drinking looks like through a young person’s eyes, the next question is… what can you actually do as a parent? These years can feel like walking a tightrope — you want to guide and protect them, but you also don’t want to push them away. In this episode, I talk with therapeutic consultant Joanna Lilly about how parents can build trust early, respond instead of react, and s...

For most young people, their first drink isn’t about getting drunk — it’s about feeling like they belong. When we see it through that lens, the whole conversation changes. In this episode, I talk with therapeutic consultant Joanna Lilly about what’s really driving early drinking — identity, belonging, and pressure to fit in. We talk about how experimentation can start early, what signs can signal...

Today I’m sharing something that more people should know about… but most still don’t. It’s called naltrexone — a prescription medication that can actually help reduce how rewarding alcohol feels. That “buzz” or dopamine spike? This blunts it, making it easier to drink less without relying on willpower alone. In this episode, I’ll walk you through: What naltrexone does in your brain Why it’s not ab...

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside! If you listened to Part One, we talked about the cultural shift behind the rise of NA drinks. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the business side. Sean Goldsmith, co-founder of The Zero Proof, shares how he went from blogging about the movement to running one of the largest online NA retailers in the country — with more than 500 SKUs, nati...

Hey everyone, welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside. Today’s conversation is a fun one — because it’s not just about drinking less, it’s about what’s happening around us. Gallup just reported record-low drinking rates in the U.S., and you can feel this cultural shift everywhere — from grocery aisles to restaurant menus. To unpack what’s going on, I sat down with Sean Goldsmith, co-founder of Th...

Light anxiety. Brain fog. Cravings. It’s not random — it’s your nervous system recalibrating after alcohol. In this episode, Mike breaks down how mini withdrawals work, why they quietly fuel drinking habits, and how to reset your baseline. Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Visit https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial of Sunnyside. -- Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Podcast:...

In this episode, Martin Silva returns for a conversation on how his relationship with alcohol and health has evolved over the years. Martin is a transformation and performance coach with more than 20 years in the fitness world. We talk about the wild early days, how drinking fit into that chapter, and what changed as his goals and priorities shifted. Along the way, we share personal stories and di...

Today I’m joined by Martin Silva — a transformation and performance coach with more than 20 years in the health and fitness world. He’s a former pro physique competitor who knows firsthand how easy it is to cross the line from healthy habits into obsession. In this episode, we talk about his early years in fitness, what the extreme side of that world looks like, and the turning point that changed...

When you cut back or quit drinking, it’s easy to assume everything will automatically fall into place—better energy, clearer sleep, sharper focus. And for many of us, that does happen. But sometimes, something sneaky slips in through the back door. In this episode, Mike shares his personal story of what happened nearly a year after quitting alcohol: discovering insulin resistance, unexpected sugar...

You’ve probably heard that 95% of what we do is driven by the subconscious. So what happens when you learn how to work with it—on purpose? In this episode, Mike sits down with hypnotherapist Ethan Reis to unpack how hypnotherapy helps rewire the brain, calm the nervous system, and make lasting behavior change actually stick. They explore the science behind hypnosis, the truth about suggestibility,...

If you’ve been reaching for a drink to take the edge off back pain, sore joints, or help you sleep through the night, you’re not alone. For many, alcohol feels like the only thing that works. But new research shows it may actually worsen pain over time. In this 10-Minute Monday, we unpack what’s really happening in your body—and better ways to find lasting relief. Want to drink less with no pressu...

We love to tell ourselves stories about alcohol: I only drink wine, so it’s fine. I need a drink to relax. At least I’m not like them. For Molly Watts — author, coach, and host of The Alcohol Minimalist podcast — those stories fueled decades of daily drinking, even while she told herself she was just a “moderate” drinker. In this episode, Molly shares how she broke free from the lies that kept her...

Today I am sitting down with Nick Allen, CEO of Sunnyside, for an important conversation about a new direction in alcohol health. For years, medication has been seen as a last resort for people at rock bottom, but what we're seeing now is that it can play a role much earlier as both a preventative step and a corrective tool, helping people build a healthier relationship with alcohol.  With Sunnysi...

We’re back with Erica Mallery, founder of Shameover and a coach who helps women transform their relationship with alcohol. In this second part of our conversation, Erica shares her five pillars for lasting change. You’ll learn how each step builds awareness, rewires habits, and helps you gain confidence in your choices. Erica also explains why harm reduction is more sustainable than all-or-nothing...

Today’s guest is Erica Mallery, founder of Shameover and a coach who helps women transform their relationship with alcohol. In this first part of our conversation, Erica shares the subtle signs that told her it was time to make a change — including the unforgettable moment when her toddler handed her a wine glass. You’ll learn why waiting for rock bottom can actually hold you back, how small habit...

Most of us only think about drinking in terms of the night itself or the morning-after regret. But alcohol carries costs that sneak into the spaces between—affecting your patience, your relationships, your creativity, and even your sense of connection. In this episode, I unpack four overlooked ways alcohol leaves its mark long after the glass is empty. Want to drink less with no pressure to quit?...

In Part 2, I’m joined again by Sonal Kalra, founder of Connect Meditation and a trauma-informed mindfulness teacher who blends Eastern wisdom with modern neuroscience. She breaks down the basics of somatic healing and EMDR, explaining how trauma and stress live in the body—not just the mind. We talk about how the nervous system can stay stuck in survival mode, how somatic practices help restore a...

Hey, it’s Mike. Today I’m joined by Sonal Kalra—founder of Connect Meditation and a teacher who blends Eastern wisdom with modern science. She grew up with meditation as part of everyday life in India, but it wasn’t until the stress of business school and corporate HR that she realized how powerful it really was. Now she teaches trauma-sensitive mindfulness to schools, companies, and communities—a...

Ever notice how cravings seem to sneak up in the late afternoon—right around 3 p.m.? That’s not just you, and it’s not random. It’s your body clock, blood sugar, and hydration all working against you at the same time. In this 10-Minute Monday, Mike breaks down the science behind the afternoon slump, why it makes alcohol more tempting, and the four simple moves that can stop it from hijacking your...

In Part 2 of my chat with performance coach Rob Tracz, we go from personal story to practical tools. Rob walks us through his JEEP Framework—how to fuel your body, clean up your inputs, and create an environment that actually supports your goals. We get into energy, resilience, alcohol, and why trying to “power through” usually backfires. If you’re done with the all-or-nothing approach and want to...

Rob Tracz is a performance coach to founders, athletes, and high achievers—but he wasn’t always living in alignment. At one point, he was doing 17 client sessions a day, 7 days a week, using alcohol just to shut his brain off. His health was slipping, relationships crumbling, and the hustle culture he thought was helping… was actually hiding what really needed to change. In this episode, Rob opens...

Many men are taught that strength means staying quiet and handling stress alone. But silence often pushes stress toward drinking and distance at home. In this episode, Mike shares his personal story, explains what the research shows about how men and women cope differently, and offers practical ways couples can support each other without judgment—building healthier habits and stronger connections...

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...

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...

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 ove...