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PODCAST

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle

Helping high performers feel & perform better by reducing or quitting alcohol. Maybe you"re considering quitting alcohol and going completely sober. Or maybe you wish to change your relationship with alcohol and stop drinking. Maybe you wish to do moderation. Whichever way you choose, this podcast will give you the process to succeed. Alcohol-Free Lifestyle is for high performers, including entrepreneurs, executives, investors, athletes, and top professionals.

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All Episodes

38:53

The Self-Advocate: Candy's Journey from "CFO of the...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/05/06

What happens when a successful professional and mother realizes that alcohol, once a social "glue," has become a biological crutch? Coach Matt sits down with AFL member Candy to celebrate her 365-day milestone. Candy shares her transition from using wine to numb emotional struggles to becoming a fierce advocate for her own health and boundaries. Discover how the "Field to Heal" philosophy allowed her to navigate high-stakes all-inclusive vacations with total social ease, and why shifting her

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18:45

Updating Your Narrative: Shifting from Subconscious...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/05/04

Are you living a life that happens to you, or a life designed by you? Coach Matt explores the powerful transition from subconscious survival patterns to a conscious chosen identity. Discover how the brain builds "survival stories" through the lens of confirmation and negativity bias, often using alcohol to maintain a narrative of safety rather than freedom. Learn why becoming alcohol-free is the ultimate opportunity to rewire your internal system, moving from "reactionary survival mode" to a state

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22:47

The Alcohol-Free Social Blueprint: Thriving in...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/05/01

Worried about an upcoming cruise, all-inclusive resort, or family BBQ? Coach Matt provides a strategic masterclass on how to navigate the most "intimidating" part of an alcohol-free journey: socializing without a shortcut. Discover why the first 10 minutes of any event are the most awkward and how to use the "Curiosity Game" to recalibrate your nervous system. Learn the neuroscience of effective refusal, the "7-38-55 Rule" of communication, and why shifting from FOMO to JOMO (the joy of missing out)

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18:22

The Power of One: How Your Alcohol-Free Choice...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/29

Can one person's decision to stop drinking truly change the world? Coach Matt explores the "Power of One" and the profound ripple effect your alcohol-free journey has on your family, workplace, and community. Discover the science behind social pressure experiments, why 75% of people conform to the group even when they know better, and how one "dissenter" can grant everyone else permission to choose health. This episode dives into the neurobiology of resonance, mirror neurons, and co-regulation,

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33:19

Epigenetics & Neuroscience: How to Change Your...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/28

What if the struggle with alcohol isn't about willpower… but about biology? In this episode, James Swanwick breaks down the powerful connection between epigenetics and neuroscience—and how your environment, habits, and daily choices are actively influencing your genetic expression. You'll discover how alcohol impacts the way your genes behave, reinforcing patterns that keep you stuck… and more importantly, how to reverse that. This isn't about labeling yourself or believing you're "wired this way."

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31:29

Top 10 Moments of Your Life Will Help You Remove...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/28

What if the key to removing alcohol from your life isn't willpower… but perspective? In this episode, James Swanwick walks you through a simple but powerful exercise: identifying the top 10 moments of your life. Your proudest achievements. Your most meaningful connections. Your moments of real joy, love, and fulfillment. Now ask yourself… how many of those moments actually involved alcohol? For most high-performing professionals, the answer is confronting: alcohol wasn't the reason those moments

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19:59

The New State-Changers: Navigating the Multi-Billion...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/27

Are you witnessing the "marginalization" of alcohol in real-time? Coach Matt explores a massive cultural shift, similar to the decline of cigarettes 20 years ago, where high achievers are trading toxins for intentional brain chemistry . Discover the economic data behind Gen Z's 20-30% drop in drinking and the fragmented market of state-changers now replacing alcohol's role in social ritual, mood regulation, and stress relief . This episode breaks down the explosion of functional beverages,

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26:11

Suck It Up, Buttercup With James Swanwick

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/24

At some point, you have to tell yourself the truth. No more blaming stress. No more blaming your schedule. No more blaming other people. If alcohol has been costing you your energy, your focus, your relationships, or your self-respect… you played a role in that. And in this episode, James Swanwick delivers a direct message: Suck it up, buttercup. Not to shame you - but to wake you up. Because the same person who created the problem… is the exact same person who gets to create the solution. Inside

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54:26

What Really Happens at an AFL Retreat (Atlanta Recap...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/23

At first glance, an AFL retreat might look like a few days away in a nice location. It's not. In this episode, James Swanwick and head coach David Gilks take you behind the scenes of AFL's recent Atlanta retreat - what really happens, why it works, and the standards that make it unlike anything else in the alcohol-free space. You'll hear how the room came together to raise over $50,000 for a breast cancer rehabilitation charity… and why that mission matters so deeply to the AFL community. But this

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41:04

Alcohol Neuroscience: What Drinking Really Does to...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/22

Most people think alcohol just "takes the edge off." But what if it's actually taking your edge away? In this episode, James Swanwick breaks down the neuroscience of alcohol—what's really happening inside your brain every time you drink, and why even "moderate" consumption may be costing you far more than you realize. You'll discover: How alcohol rewires your brain's reward system (and keeps you coming back for more) Why your focus, memory, and decision-making quietly decline over time The truth

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42:06

How Do You Know If You're Ready to Quit Drinking With...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/21

Are you waiting for the "perfect time" to stop drinking? James Swanwick explores why high achievers, entrepreneurs, physicians, and executives often get stuck in a "thinking problem" rather than an "action problem." Discover why your brain uses upcoming holidays, weddings, and work deals as excuses to delay change, and why the "72-Hour Rule" is the only way to break the cycle. Learn the difference between "living alcohol-free" and "loving living alcohol-free," and how a community of like-minded

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18:41

The Freedom Paradox: How Your Preferences Become Your...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/20

Do you believe freedom is doing whatever you want, whenever you want? Coach Matt challenges this common misconception by exploring how high achievers often mistake compulsions for preferences . Discover the "Biological Trap" of chemical dependency and why true freedom isn't just the ability to choose a drink, but the ability to walk away from it . This episode breaks down the bio-psycho-social prisons that alcohol creates from disrupted sleep and "drinking math" to a limited social identity and

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18:03

The Experience of Presence: A Guided Meditation for...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/17

Are you constantly living in the future or ruminating on the past? In part two of their "Life by Design" series, Coach Matt and mindfulness expert Jeff Lester move from theory to application. Jeff guides listeners through a powerful meditation practice designed to shift the body from a high-alert sympathetic state into deep relaxation and presence. Discover the neurological difference between "meditation" (the state) and "meditation practice" (the tool) as you learn to use your breath to soften

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33:38

Life by Design: Moving from Autopilot to Intentional...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/15

Are you living your life by choice or by habit? Coach Matt welcomes back mentor and wellness expert Jeff Lester to explore the concept of Life by Design. Discover how to shift from "downriver" living, where you react to past behaviors, to a state of conscious agency. Learn why high achievers must "follow the plan, not the mood," and how to transform mundane routines into powerful rituals through presence and curiosity. This episode provides a blueprint for integrating mindfulness, breathwork, and

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16:06

The Cured Cement Milestone: Why One Year is the Gold...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/13

s 90 days enough, or are you just getting warmed up? Coaches Matt and Jason explore the profound difference between becoming alcohol-free and living alcohol-free. While the first 90 days provide essential "wet cement" for new neural pathways, it is the one-year mark that truly "cures" your new identity. Discover the neuroscience of the 21/90 Rule, the restoration of natural dopamine tone, and why high achievers must move past "Destination Syndrome" to avoid the drift back to old habits. This episode

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16:00

The Drift: Why We Go Back and How to Protect Your...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/10

Have you reached the 90-day mark and started thinking, "I'm good, I've got this"? Coaches Matt and Jason dive into the dangerous phenomenon of "The Drift"—the slow, subtle erosion of your alcohol-free identity that can happen months or even years after quitting . Discover the neuroscience of Fading Effect Bias and why "famous last words" like "I'll be fine" often lead high achievers back to the moderation trap . This episode provides a candid roadmap to identify the shift from firm commitment

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01:19:58

Generations of Wisdom: A Conversation on Life,...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/09

What does a "worthy footprint" look like after eight decades of life? James Swanwick sits down with his 81-year-old father, Ron Swanwick, in Medellin, Colombia, for a deep dive into parenthood, career transitions, and the pursuit of longevity. Ron shares the remarkable story of his dual-career path, transitioning from a veterinary surgeon to a crown prosecutor at age 49, and the importance of discipline, integrity, and the "hand of providence" in navigating life's pitfalls. This episode is a

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25:58

Scaling Beyond Chaos: The Founder's Blueprint for...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/09

Is your business truly growing, or are you just "scaling chaos"? In this episode, we dive into the hidden friction points that keep successful founders stuck between seven and eight figures. Discover why most entrepreneurs mistake a conversion or alignment problem for a "leads problem" and how internal rivalries between sales and marketing can kill your momentum. Learn the "Game Seven Team" philosophy for building elite company culture, the danger of "Omnipresence FOMO" in the age of AI, and why

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31:08

From Tradie to Seven-Figure Mentor: Building Business...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/09

Is your business a scalable machine or just a full-time job that's wearing you down? James Swanwick sits down with Jeff Lester to discuss the transition from a "tradie" (carpenter) to a high-level mentor for seven-figure entrepreneurs. Discover the "Chippy's Blueprint", why skipping levels in your business foundation leads to inevitable collapse and how to identify the warning signs of entrepreneurial burnout. Jeff shares his personal cautionary tale of losing it all in Brazil and how he rebuilt

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16:06

The Danger of "I Got This": Navigating the Slow...

Alcohol-Free Lifestyle ·

2026/04/08

Have you reached a milestone and started thinking you're finally "cured"? Coaches Matt and Jason expose the psychological trap of the "slow erosion" the gradual process where overconfidence and ego lead high achievers back to the drink. Discover the neuroscience behind fading effect bias and why your "famous last words" are often "I'll be fine" or "I got this." Learn how to identify the drift in your narrative before it becomes a behavioral shift, and why maintaining identity-based habits is the

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