Journey to the Sunnyside | Mindful Drinking & Alcohol Health

In part two, I’m back with Lila Volkas — Certified Nutrition Consultant and co-creator of Mocktail School. She’s taught Fortune 500 companies how to replace happy hour with wellness-focused mocktail classes. Today, she shares her five-pillar framework for building alcohol-free drinks that actually rival cocktails. You’ll learn how to add complexity, texture, and function, plus the myths she wants...

Lila Volkas, Certified Nutrition Consultant and co-creator of Mocktail School, is helping Fortune 500 companies swap beer taps for mocktail classes. After cutting out alcohol for her own health, she saw how flat the non-alcoholic world was—and built a better way. In this episode, she shares her journey, why companies are rethinking drinking culture, and how her workshops are changing team connecti...

Ever notice how some of your strongest drinking urges hit when absolutely nothing is wrong? You're not stressed or celebrating, just existing on a Friday night, and somehow your brain decides that unstimulated time requires alcohol. In this episode, I get personal about my own boredom drinking patterns and share the science behind why boredom feels so uncomfortable (hint: it's not about having not...

In Part Two of my conversation with Karin Adoni, nutritionist and author, we dive into real-life strategies for supporting gut health and balancing hormones. Karin shares simple swaps to reduce toxins, boost energy, and feel better day to day. We close with a rapid-fire round of her best tips for sleep, cravings, and mindful living. Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.c...

This week I’m joined by Karin Adoni, clinical nutritionist, founder of EMII Supplements, and author of three books on clean living. In Part One, Karin shares her powerful journey through eating disorders, how she rebuilt her health, and why food — much like alcohol — can become a way to cope or control. Her story offers deep insights into mindfulness, balance, and what it really means to heal. Wan...

In this episode, we zoom out—on the past 30 days, the summer, and even the year so far—to see the real changes you’ve made. Progress isn’t always obvious day to day, but when you step back, the picture looks very different. You’ll learn why your brain is wired to miss small wins, what the science says about tracking change over time, and how Sunnyside members are making lasting shifts. Then, we’ll...

Welcome back to Part Two of my conversation with my friend Mark Victor Hansen —co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul and author of over a billion books sold worldwide, including his latest, Ask! The Bridge From Your Dreams to Your Destiny , and classics like One Minute Millionaire and The Power of Focus . In Part One, we explored his early inspirations and how he transformed challenges into purp...

I’m honored today to sit down with my friend Mark Victor Hansen , co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul and author of dozens of life-changing books—altogether, he’s sold over one billion copies worldwide . His newest release, Ask! The Bridge from Your Dreams to Your Destiny , dives into how life’s most powerful transformations often begin with a better question. Mark’s a master storyteller and a...

If your head feels crowded this Monday—maybe with weekend regrets, to-do list stress, or just that heavy “where do I start?” feeling—this 10-minute reset is for you. We’ll clear the noise, release what’s weighing you down, and choose one small action you can influence today. Backed by research on expressive writing and behavior change, this quick exercise will help you swap shame for clarity and s...

Welcome back to part two of my conversation with Dr. Andrew Tatarsky. If you missed part one, we unpacked the roots of the abstinence-only model and why it often fails to support the majority of people seeking help for substance use. Today, we pick up with Andrew’s personal turning point — the moment he began questioning that system from the inside. For context, Dr. Tatarsky is a clinical psycholo...

Ever since our first interview, I’ve come to deeply respect today’s guest — and I’m grateful to now call him a close friend. Dr. Andrew Tatarsky is a clinical psychologist, author, and one of the pioneers of harm reduction psychotherapy — a model that’s helped thousands of people build a better relationship with substances, even if abstinence isn’t their starting point. In this first part of our c...

Start your week with a reset that actually sticks. In just 10 minutes, you’ll move through a powerful science-backed flow: a quick gratitude shift, a habit win to anchor progress, a guided intention to move you forward, and a simple breath technique proven to calm your nervous system fast. No fluff. No pressure. Just a mental tune-up you can come back to anytime life feels off track. Want to drink...

Today we’re pulling back the curtain so you can meet one of the key people behind what we’re building at Sunnyside. Steve Lloyd is our Chief Product and Technology Officer—and before joining us, he spent a decade helping grow Strava into one of the world’s most loved fitness platforms. In this episode, you’ll hear what brought Steve to Sunnyside, what he’s focused on behind the scenes, and how his...

Rick Culleton is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and CEO who’s built multiple multimillion-dollar companies over the past four decades. But behind the success was a daily drinking habit—used not to party, but to manage stress, anxiety, and undiagnosed ADHD. Rick drank for nearly 40 years, all while running high-growth businesses and appearing to have it all together. When health markers forced...

If you’ve ever wondered why moderating your drinking feels harder than you expected, you’re not alone — and you’re not doing it wrong. Mike explains the surprising mental load that comes with moderation, why it’s not a failure to need a break, and how to find the right path for your season of life. A must-listen for anyone navigating the middle ground. Want to drink less with no pressure to quit?...

Most people try to change their drinking by focusing on the alcohol itself. But if you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck reacting the same way over and over, there’s a reason — and it’s not just in your head. It’s in your body. In this episode, I’m joined again by Colleen Freeland, a master life coach and addiction recovery specialist who helps high-achieving women cut their drinking by 80% without l...

Why is it so hard to stop at one drink — or to stop reaching for your phone, your fridge, or another quick fix? In this episode, we’ll explore how your brain’s dopamine system drives cravings and what you can do to reset it. You’ll learn five practical steps to feel calmer, more satisfied, and less pulled toward habits that don’t actually serve you. Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go...

Today we’re talking with Colleen Freeland. She’s a master life coach and addiction recovery specialist who helps high-achieving women cut their drinking by 80% without labeling themselves or committing to a lifetime of sobriety. I align so much with her work — because just like we teach here, it’s not really about the alcohol. It’s about how you think, how you regulate your emotions, and how you b...

Big weekends like the 4th aren’t just about fireworks — they reveal how your drinking habits really show up under pressure. In this episode, Mike breaks down why your brain acted the way it did, how to learn from it without guilt , and why celebrating your wins matters just as much as fixing slip-ups. Perfect for anyone moderating or taking a break, and looking to make the rest of summer easier. W...

Everyone knows alcohol messes with sleep — but nobody really talks about what happens when you actually start drinking less. Because here’s the weird part: your sleep might actually get worse before it gets better. So today, I’ll break down why that happens, how long it really takes your brain and body to reset, and what you can do in the meantime — whether you’re moderating or taking a full break...

Quick question: how often do you catch yourself replaying the same mistake or worrying about something that hasn’t even happened yet? That mental loop isn’t harmless. It actually keeps your body on edge and quietly drives you to reach for the easiest way to shut it off — which for a lot of people is another drink. Today we’re breaking down why your brain does this, how it keeps you stuck, and exac...

Today I’m joined by someone whose work I deeply respect and who’s become a trusted voice in the alcohol and mental health space—Merrilee Burke. Merrilee is a licensed therapist based in California. She returns to the show for an insightful conversation about how our drinking habits are often tied to identity, shame, and outdated definitions of “problem drinking.” We unpack what we both wish we kne...

Tracking your drinks matters — it’s a core part of how Sunnyside helps you stay mindful. But if you’ve ever had a “dry day” and still felt off… this episode explains why. Mike shares a story from a listener who realized the biggest shift didn’t come from how many drinks she had — but from asking one powerful question: “Is this aligned with my values?”  In this quick, science-backed episode, you’ll...

Derek Brown was named one of the best bartenders in America, author of Mindful Mixology, and now a leading voice in the mindful drinking movement. In this episode, we talk about what changed when he stepped away from alcohol, how the culture around drinking has evolved since the 2000s, and why NA drinks are finally being taken seriously. Derek shares what he’s seeing inside the industry, what make...

Want to cut back without overthinking it? In this episode, Mike breaks down how habit stacking works and how to use it to drink less—by linking new routines to things you already do, like getting home from work or finishing dinner. Backed by behavioral science and real-life examples, you’ll learn simple, proven ways to make drinking less feel automatic. Want to drink less with no pressure to quit?...