Journey to the Sunnyside | Mindful Drinking & Alcohol Health

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside . Today's episode is for anyone who feels stuck or disconnected from their purpose. Whether you're over 50 or even in your forties and starting to question where you're headed, my guest today, Julie Ciardi, is a former Fortune 50 executive who now helps people in mid-life redefine their lives, create new identities, and align with what truly fulfills them....

In this 10-Minute Monday (Tuesday Edition), learn how to create and reinforce new habits by building stronger pathways in the brain. Discover quick, practical tips to make new routines stick and make lasting change easier. Perfect for kick-starting your week! Want to drink less with no pressure to quit? Go to https://ctbk.co/4doo5dq for a free 15-day trial. -- Listen to Journey to the Sunnyside Po...

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside ! Today, we’re diving into breaking free from self-sabotaging patterns with Stefanos Sifandos. Stefanos is the real deal—he’s worked with top-level athletes, CEOs, and high performers around the world, helping them transform their lives through conscious empowerment. He’s guided thousands in areas like emotional healing and self-mastery, and today he’s here...

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside ! Today, we’re diving into a topic that goes deep—healing the inner child for a healthier, more connected you. Our guest Stefanos Sifandos, is a transformational coach, speaker, and advocate for conscious relationships and personal healing. Stefanos has worked with everyone from elite soldiers to world champion athletes, guiding them toward growth and trans...

In this quick 10-Minute Monday, we’re breaking down how breathwork can be a secret weapon for staying on track with mindful drinking. I’ll walk you through three dead-simple breathing techniques you can do anywhere, whether you’re at work, home, or feeling those social pressures, to keep cravings and stress in check. We’re also going to hit on why breathwork isn’t just a quick fix; the long-term h...

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside . If you've been following along, you'll know that we're deep in this incredible journey of Darren Prince. In part one, we heard about his rise in the world of celebrity agents, representing legends like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Hulk Hogan in the late Muhammad Ali, as well as working with icons like Smokin' Joe Frazier Chevy chase, and David Goggins. We a...

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside ! Today, we’re shaking things up. Usually, we dive into strategies and tips to help you live a more balanced life, but sometimes a story comes along that offers lessons far beyond the tactical. Today, we’ve got one of those stories. I’m excited to welcome Darren Prince, a Sports and Celebrity agent who Represents legends like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Hulk...

Ever caught yourself saying, ‘I deserve this drink,’ or ‘Just one won’t hurt’? Those small excuses can add up over time, chipping away at the goals we set for ourselves. In today’s episode, we’ll dive into a fresh way to handle those moments—whether it’s after a long day, at a holiday party, or on vacation. Instead of feeling guilty or forcing ourselves to stick to strict rules, we’ll talk about h...

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside! Today we’re continuing our conversation with Cecily Mak, the creator of the ClearLife Movement. In our last episode, Cecily shared her personal journey and gave us a look at how she views habits versus addiction. Today, we’re diving deeper into her Eight Awarenesses framework, which helps people transform their habits—whether it’s alcohol or any other beha...

Welcome to Journey to the Sunnyside! Today we’ve got an exciting episode for you. I’m joined by Cecily Mak—a writer, podcast host, co-founder of Wisdom Ventures, and a mom of two. Cecily’s journey into mindful living and personal transformation led her to create the ClearLife Movement. ClearLife is all about living without “dimmers”—those habits or behaviors that dull our experience and keep us fr...

In this episode, we’re flipping the script on boredom. Instead of seeing it as a negative, we’ll talk about how it can actually be one of your best tools for growth, especially when you’re cutting back on drinking. I’m sharing 7 simple, actionable ways to turn those boring moments into opportunities to realign with your goals, try new things, and keep building momentum. Whether you’re tackling new...

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside ! Today, we’re diving into a really interesting topic—alcohol. Specifically, Is cutting out alcohol completely necessary for a healthy lifestyle? And who better to explore this with than Mark Sisson. Mark is the founder of Primal Kitchen , a best-selling author, and the creator of Mark’s Daily Apple . He’s been a pioneer in the health and fitness world for...

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside . Today, I’ve got a true legend with us—Mark Sisson. Mark is the founder of Primal Kitchen and  Peluvia, author of several best-selling books on health and fitness, and the mastermind behind Mark’s Daily Apple , one of the most respected resources in the health and wellness space. If you’re interested in living a life full of energy, balance, and purpose, y...

In this 10-minute episode of Sunnyside’s Monday series, we dive into the concept of "intermittent sobriety," a growing trend reshaping how we view alcohol. While it's not about quitting completely, it offers a perspective on creating a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. We'll explore the cultural shifts behind this movement, why it’s gaining popularity, and how it reflects changing social norms,...

Welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside ! Today we’re exploring a topic that resonates with so many people: why alcohol is so hard to cut back on or quit altogether. While it may seem like just a habit, there’s actually a lot happening in your brain that makes change feel so difficult. Joining me is Phil Cowley, a pharmacist with over 20 years of experience who’s known for simplifying complex hea...

Hey, welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside! The other day, Phil Cowley and I talked about how alcohol affects your medications, and today we’re tackling another big issue: how alcohol might be ruining your sleep. If you’ve ever had a few drinks and thought it was helping you sleep, only to wake up tired, this episode is for you. Phil is back to explain how alcohol disrupts your sleep cycles and...

Hey, welcome to Journey to the Sunnyside! I’m your host, Mike Hardenbrook, and today we’re digging into a critical topic: what happens when you mix alcohol with medications. Whether you’re taking over-the-counter or prescription drugs, alcohol can have serious effects on how they work. Joining me is Phil Cowley, a pharmacist with over 20 years of experience. Phil’s not only a pro at breaking down...

Hey everyone, welcome back to Journey to the Sunnyside! Today’s episode is packed with some really exciting news. We’re diving into the results of a third-party study that analyzed over 46,000 Sunnyside members and their self-reported drinking habits. The focus? How real-time, adaptive text messages are helping people change their drinking habits around alcohol. And I’m thrilled to have Nick Allen...

Why wait until January to make a change? In this episode, we dive into the differences between Sober and Sober(ish) October and how each approach could set you up for success before the holidays hit. Tune in to discover how a small shift in your October plans could have a big impact. Here's the link to join Sober(ish) October  https://get.sunnyside.co/october?utm_source=podcast Want to drink less...

Joining me again is Dr. Hrishikesh Belani, medical advisor for Sunnyside.co, and an expert in alcohol use disorders. Dr. Belani’s worked with countless people looking to reduce their drinking without feeling overwhelmed. Today, he’s going to share some simple strategies that you can start using right away to cut back on alcohol in a way that fits your lifestyle. Let’s jump in with Dr. Hrishikesh B...

I’m excited to be joined by Dr. Hrishikesh Belani. He’s not only the Primary Care Director of LA County Health Services but also an Assistant Professor at UCLA and a medical advisor for Sunnyside. Dr. Belani’s expertise covers everything from alcohol use disorders to mindful drinking, and today he’s here to shed light on the health risks that often fly under the radar. Let’s get right into it with...

In this 10-Minute Monday episode, we’re breaking down how alcohol manipulates one of the most important chemicals in your brain—dopamine. Ever wondered why you crave that next drink? Today, we’ll uncover why alcohol tricks your brain, what happens when you stop drinking, and how to naturally restore your dopamine levels. Curious about taking back control? This is the episode you won’t want to miss...

In this episode, we’re diving into the sober curious movement with Olivia Noceda, who’s been alcohol-free for nearly 3 years and has built an incredible community of over 470K followers. Known for her creative non-alcoholic drink recipes and authentic storytelling, Olivia has become a major voice in the movement, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z. We talk about why she chose to quit drinkin...

In this 10-minute Monday, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked keys to staying motivated—celebrating your wins. It’s not just about big milestones; even small victories can build momentum, keep you consistent, and make this journey way more fun. I’ll break down how positive reinforcement taps into your brain’s dopamine system and why rewarding yourself makes all the difference. If you’re r...

In this episode, we’re joined by USMC veteran Jesse Carrajat, founder of Altum Fitness and host of the Sober Strength podcast. Jesse opens up about his journey from military service and corporate life to building a mission-driven wellness platform. We explore how fitness and mental wellness work together to create sustainable habits, improve emotional resilience, and redefine what 'sober strength'...