The Alcohol Free Revolution Podcast

Last week we heard from Jo — Steve's wife — and the response has been incredible. So this week we're back with part two.

This time Steve sits down with Kristen, James' wife, for an equally honest conversation about what she saw, what worried her, and what actually c...

In this special two-part series, we hand the mic to the people who've had the best — and most honest — view of what going alcohol-free really looks like: our wives.

This week, James sits down with Jo, Steve's wife, for a candid conversation about what life looked like when...

Off the back of their Catherine Gray episode, Steve and James dive into the books that have shaped their alcohol-free adventures — and the ones that came downstream of removing alcohol.

From the core quitlit that first cracked things open — The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, This Naked Mind, Alcohol Explained, and Alcohol Lied To Me — to the mindset and habit books that helped rebuild life on the other s...

Regular listeners will know that Catherine Gray has come up more than once on the show — and for good reason. Her book The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober is one of those rare reads that genuinely shifts something, and it's been on both Steve and James's recommended lists since day one. So when the opportunity came to sit down with her properly, we jumpe...

This week we sit down with the one and only David Wilson AKA 'Sober Dave'

We've been wanting to get Dave on for a while, and he didn't disappoint. In a conversation that covers childhood, identity, rock bottoms and real recovery, Sober Dave reminds us that it's never to...

This week we’re joined by health psychologist Professor Richard Cooke to unpack one big question:

If we know alcohol isn’t great for us… why do we still drink?

We talk about why smoking feels different to drinking, why hangovers shift from a “badge of honour” in your 20s to a wake-up call in midlife, and why moderation can feel completely exhausting.

We also dig into the real fear behind cutting back — losing connection — and why t...

This week it's just Steve and James  and despite the fact the rain never wants to go away they talk through why spring can be a surprisingly tricky time when you’re changing your relationship with alcohol. From beer gardens and BBQs to the “I’ve earned it” mindset,

They discuss the psychology behind cravings, the internal negotiation that often leads to “just one,” The conversation also highlights why taking a longer break can crea...

Episode 34 – Rich Casement

In this episode, we’re joined by Rich Casement, co-founder of Clean Break Coaching, ultrarunner, and alcohol-free performance coach. Rich shares his powerful journey from a 20-year career in the alcohol industry to taking a “clean break” from both drinking and the identity that once defined him. We explore the mental health challenges that sparked change, how running became both a refuge and a reset, and ...

Episode 33: Matt Phelan – The Happiness Loan We Don’t Talk About

In this episode, we’re joined by Matt Phelan, co-founder of The Happiness Index, to explore the surprising relationship between alcohol, happiness, and workplace culture. Matt shares his personal journey to becoming alcohol-free and explains how tracking his own wellbeing data revealed what he calls the “happiness loan...

In this episode of The Alcohol Free Revolution, Steve and James are joined by Mark Cox, host of the fabulous Mum, Dad’s Got another Tattoo podcast, for an open and wide-ranging conversation about alcohol, identity, and navigating midlife without losing yourself.

Mark shares his experience of going alcohol-free without a dramatic “rock bottom”, and what it’s really been like ...

This week it’s just Steve and James, sitting down for an honest, unfiltered conversation about something a lot of people reach the end of January thinking quietly to themselves:

So… what now?

Having both gone alcohol-free over four and a half years ago, they reflect on why stopping for a month can feel powerful — but also why going straight back to drinking often doesn’t sit quite right. The episode explores what actually changes w...

Mike Mudie is the CEO and co-founder of Authentic Brew.

Last year after experiencing corporate burnout and making the decision to step away from alcohol, Mike began questioning the way we rely on constant stimulation to get through the day. What started as a personal search for something more balanced and natural eventually led to the creation of Authentic Brew

In this episode, Mike talks openly about the journey from burnout to bu...

In this episode, James is joined by Elliot Porter —referred to by his friends and bandmates as the metal drummer with a soft centre. Elliot began to quietly question the role alcohol was playing in his life, his identity, and where things were heading.

Not necessarily from a place of rock bottom, but from curiosity.

As someone immersed in music, performance, and a culture where drinking was often part of the backdrop, Elliot opens ...

This week we talk all things Dry January, and it’s just Steve and James — no guest, just an open, honest chat to kick off 2026.

We talk about what Dry January is really like once you’re a few days in, why so many people are doing it this year, and the kind of wins people start to notice when alcohol’s out of the picture. We also get into alcohol-free drinks (including a few favourites), and why community can make a big difference w...

This week on The Alcohol-Free Revolution Podcast, we’re joined by a true pioneer of the alcohol-free movement, Laura Willoughby MBE.

Laura’s career began in local government, where she quickly established herself as a powerful voice for change. At just 30 years old, she was awarded an MBE in recognition of her work — a sign of the impact she was already making.

In 2013, Laura made the decision to go alcohol-free. That decision didn...

This week, we’re welcoming our second ever international guest, joining us all the way from Austin, Texas — Scot Maitland.

Scot is a passionate alcohol-free mixologist who became frustrated with the same old options being offered in pubs and bars: sugary, fizzy drinks passed off as “non-alcoholic alternatives.”

Instead of accepting that, Scot built a framework for creating sophisticated, adult, alcohol-free drinks — without relying...

This week, we’re joined by Daniel Avener, Founder & CEO of ClubSobr.

ClubSobr is a global community created for people who want to live fully, connect deeply, and celebrate — without alcohol at the centre. Its mission is simple but powerful: to make sobriety and mindful drinking aspirational, inclusive, and global.

Daniel is also an ICF-accredited business coach and recovery coach, supporting individuals and communities as th...

In this week’s episode, we’re focusing on an area where the science is clear but the public message is not: the connection between alcohol and cancer. We’re joined by Dr Emma Davies, a prominent researcher in alcohol behaviour and public health, and a Senior Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University. Emma’s work spans alcohol harm reduction, behaviour change, and how people interpret health information, and she has published widely in ...

Released during National Grief Awareness Week, this episode explores how grief shapes our lives — and how it often influences the ways we cope, including our relationship with alcohol.

We’re joined by Jess Goyder: Oxford University graduate, Grief Recovery Specialist, coach, mentor, and accomplished speaker. Jess supports both individuals and organisations using an evidence-based model that helps people understand and move through ...