145: The REAL Reason Why Most People Fail Quitting Alcohol | James Swanwick

Learn more about how you can reclaim your financial sovereignty with Infinite Banking.Did you know you can use life insurance to get out of the tax system while getting the best return on your investment?I reached a point where relying on earned income alone felt unsustainable. That tension led me into infinite banking and a deeper look at how control over money actually works. I’m joined by Josh, a former Naval Officer, rabbinical student, private jet broker, and authorized practitioner of the Infinite Banking Concept for over a decade under the mentorship of Ken Shapero. His path into this work brings both structure and lived experience to a topic that often feels abstract.I share how a bank investigation changed my sense of safety and pushed me toward financial privacy and ownership. That moment forced me to question where my money lives and who actually benefits from it.This episode is for anyone who senses something isn’t right with the way money is set up but can’t quite name it. It’s especially relevant if you want more control without having to rely on the same systems you no longer fully trust.You’ll learn:[02:14] Why lifelong financial responsibility can trigger a search for sustainable income[04:32] What happens when your bank account is flagged, and safety feels uncertain[06:48] How infinite banking reframes money as something you control[09:15] The hidden cost of leaving money in banks[12:27] Why 401ks expose you to risks you don’t control[16:03] What makes whole life insurance a liquidity tool[20:41] How uninterrupted compounding changes long-term value[27:18] Why accessing your own capital shifts spending and investing[34:56] How becoming your own financing source reduces reliance on banks[44:22] What it looks like to make your money work in the background[52:11] How structuring income through your policy changes cash flow entirely[59:34] Why using your future death benefit can fund your present life👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources mentioned:Becoming Your Own Banker by R. Nelson Nash | Book or AudiobookClick here to schedule your call with Josh or Ken today.Find more from Kelly:YouTube: Reclamation Radio with Kelly Brogan, MDInstagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book, The Reclaimed Woman here.Register for Kelly's free Beauty Backroom event here.

Join Kelly's Beauty Backroom LIVE on 4/14 at 12PM ET here.Get your tickets to Kelly's live Audacious Embodiment weekend in Miami, FL here. If you’re attracting the wrong men in your life, it might be your fault…This video traces the hidden arc many women move through in a relationship, from seeking validation to self-sufficiency, to a deeper polarity that few ever embody. The stage you’re inhabiting may be shaping everything you experience with men.There’s a difference between empowerment and erotic aliveness. There’s a difference between being chosen and consciously choosing. And there’s a reason “he can’t handle me” may land differently than you think.I enter the world of female fantasy and romantic fiction, not as entertainment, but as a psychological blueprint. The stories women devour may be revealing far more about desire, safety, and power than we realize.This conversation offers a grounded framework for understanding conscious relationships, embodied expression, and the spiritual dimension of intimacy.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[01:12] Why the men you attract may reflect your current stage of maturation[03:18] How first-stage relating revolves around external validation and subtle codependence[05:22] Why second-stage independence can create stability yet diminish erotic charge[06:47] The umbrella metaphor that clarifies dependency, autonomy, and conscious polarity[09:28] How revealing desire and resentment in real time reshapes intimacy[12:41] Why constrictive partners can feel safer than encountering your own expansive bliss[18:36] What happens when intellectual defenses block embodied emotional expression[30:42] Why polarity depends on a steady masculine presence and a woman willing to open[36:55] How a dyadic relationship can function as a spiritual path toward deeper love👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Related Reclamation Radio Episodes:Erotic Mind | Podcast I Love Outlander | PodcastUnmasking the Narcissist | Podcast Resources Mentioned:The Erotic Mind by Jack Morin | Book or AudiobookA Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass | Book or AudiobookReclaimed Relationship Masterclass | WebsiteDavid Deida Training | WebsiteFind more from Kelly:YouTube: Reclamation Radio with Kelly Brogan, MDInstagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here.

Join Kelly's Beauty Backroom LIVE on 4/16 at 12PM ET here.Can essential oils really heal your body and soul?In today's episode, Hannah Stone shares her experience of psychiatric hospitalization, withdrawal from psychotropics, and the grounding support she found through specific oils such as vetiver oil and frankincense oil. Her story reflects a lived journey of nervous system stabilization, spiritual awakening, and reclaiming agency.We discuss how scent can anchor the body during anxiety, create ritual structure during transition, and offer companionship during emotional lows. Clare Savage also joins us to talk about the intelligence of the plant kingdom and the importance of sourcing through quality and reputable companies when working at this level of intentionality.This episode will resonate with those exploring holistic healing, deprescribing, spiritual embodiment, and a renewed relationship with nature through the senses.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[02:14] Why I stopped treating essential oils as scent and began recognizing them as medicine[08:32] What happened when Hannah left the psych ward medicated and met a bottle of vetivar[11:07] How Hannah detoxed off psych meds using daily oil rituals to steady her nervous system[16:18] How I use oils in my morning ritual to invoke masculine and feminine support[19:05] What it means to work with oils as plant intelligence that serves you[31:12] How scent reaches the brain in seconds and why quality changes the impact[41:06] The three oil support profiles for crisis, sleep, and exhausted mothers[01:10:14] How a tired mother can use a simple blend to reset overwhelm quickly[01:24:50] Why sourcing and integrity shifted my skepticism about doTERRA👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:doTERRA Essential Oils | WebsiteFind more from Hannah:Funnipharm | WebsiteFunnipharm | InstagramFind more from Clare:Clare Savage | WebsiteClare Savage | InstagramFind more from Kelly:YouTube: Reclamation Radio with Kelly Brogan, MDInstagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here.Check out the doTERRA kits specially curated by Kelly and Clare Savage here.Go to juvent.com and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.Learn how you can reclaim your financial sovereignty with Real Change Financial here. 

Get your tickets to Kelly's live Audacious Embodiment weekend in Miami, FL here.It’s time women know the truth about some gym myths…I came to strength training for women later than I expected. As a lifelong dancer and devoted cardio enthusiast, the shift into lifting was humbling and surprisingly intimate. It required me to meet the parts of myself that negotiate, hesitate, and avoid discomfort.Muscle reveals itself as far more than structure. In this conversation with Dr. Stephanie Estima, we look at how building strength supports brain health in midlife, mood stability, sleep quality, and long-term vitality. The physiology of women over 40 fitness demands a different relationship to training than the culture of endless cardio suggests.We also deconstruct common myths around getting “bulky” and clarify why progressive overload is a personal calibration rather than a fixed number on a barbell. Nutrition becomes part of the equation, including a nuanced look at carbohydrates for women who train with intention.If you are navigating midlife health and sensing that your body is asking for something deeper, this is an invitation to step into your strength.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[03:12] Lifting heavy as a loving investment in your future[08:18] Building muscle and the shift in confidence and emotional release[12:47] Progressive overload and the truth about heavy being relative[18:32] Muscle as a driver of brain, mood, and sleep resilience with age[24:10] Recalibrating from cardio culture in midlife[31:45] The gym as a practice of self-respect[39:22] Rethinking low-carb dogma in a strength training lifestyle[47:58] Lifting as a mirror for inner negotiations and mental grit[55:36] Strength training as a love letter to your future self[01:04:50] Midlife vitality and embracing a new form of power👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Reclamation Radio Episode: Maturing Food Boundaries | EpisodeLift Program by Dr. Stephanie Estima | WebsiteThe Mini Pause Newsletter | WebsiteFind more from Dr. Stephanie:Dr. Stephanie Estima | WebsiteDr. Stephanie Estima | InstagramFind more from Kelly:YouTube: Reclamation Radio with Kelly Brogan, MDInstagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here.Go to www.juvent.com/kellybrogan and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.Learn how you can reclaim your financial sovereignty with Real Change Financial here.Learn more about Dr. Stephanie Estima's LIFT fitness program here and use code DRKELLY for 15% off.

Get your tickets to Kelly's live Audacious Embodiment weekend in Miami, FL hereCircumcision has a worse impact on men than most people think… and it’s time people know about this.In this episode, Jenna McClelland and I had the conversation I wanted to have for years: the ritual circumcision of boys and men and the far-reaching consequences few are willing to name. We explore the objective reality of circumcision, how it became culturally embedded, and why it remains widely unquestioned across medical and religious settings. I examine the psychological and relational impacts on men, the ripple effects on partners and society, and how this early violation can shape dynamics between mothers and sons and men and women.We also turn toward women’s responsibility in this pattern; how consent is outsourced, how intuition is overridden, and how unconscious participation perpetuates harm. We close the conversation with a sober but hopeful look at reclamation, healing, and what becomes possible when men begin to feel into what was taken and what can still be restored.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[01:14] How a normalized medical ritual quietly shapes men’s psychology, relationships, and culture[04:37] Where women hold overlooked influence in male development and relational outcomes[07:26] What naming a normalized harm activates internally, and why avoidance is so common[18:42] How medical training can dull moral sensitivity in ways only visible years later[22:18] Why social pressure and partnership dynamics override maternal intuition[30:41] How early bodily trauma disrupts safety, agency, and future orientation in men[46:52] Why circumcision alters sexual and intimacy dynamics for women as well as men👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Find more from Jenna:Jenna McClelland | WebsiteJenna McClelland | InstagramJenna McClelland | YouTubeE’Leurre Naturals | WebsiteFind more from Kelly:YouTube: Reclamation Radio with Kelly Brogan, MDInstagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here.Go to juvent.com and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase. If you’ve been on the fence, now is the time to pull the trigger: prices for the Juvent Micro-Impact Platform rise on February 21—the first price increase in 5+ years. Lock in the current price now and avoid paying more later.

What is the best way to help people close to you that are going through the same journey you have already gone through?Personal growth can create a quiet burden when you begin to see what others don’t yet see, so in today’s episode I respond to an audacious question about whether, and when it’s appropriate to share resources or insights that feel life-altering, especially in moments like marriage decisions and divorce.Wisdom can fracture identity, separating who you were from who you believe you are now. That fracture can turn into an urge to convert others, even when no help has been requested. This pattern shows up in friendships, intimate relationships, and even casual conversations, and how easily boundaries get blurred when we think we’re acting from care.This episode is an invitation into deeper self-inquiry, asking us to examine motivation rather than outcome. Emotional responsibility shifts when the impulse to rescue gives way to respect for another person’s timing… allowing people their own process can become the most honest response available, especially when insight arrives before consent.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[01:07] Why new awareness often creates tension with past versions of yourself[02:14] What actually fuels the impulse to offer insight when no one asked[03:28] How “helping” can become an attempt to convert others[04:56] Why wisdom can split identity into acceptable and rejected selves[06:11] How unsolicited perspective often regulates the speaker, not the listener[07:58] What restraint and timing reveal about embodied emotional maturity👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:The Empowered Wife | Book or AudiobookThe Empowered Wife | PodcastThe Surrendered Wife With Laura Doyle | PodcastFind more from Kelly:YouTube: Reclamation Radio with Kelly Brogan, MDInstagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here.

Learn more about Kelly's Relaxed Woman System here.A natural supplement kit can be the greatest game changer when you’re travelling…So in this video, I share the natural health travel kit I carry when I’m away from home. I look at the psychology behind emergency supplements, ritual, and staying regulated when something feels urgent. You’ll learn my process for assessing whether a situation is truly emergent and why calm decision-making changes what happens next.You’ll hear exactly what’s in the kit for all kinds of ailments, including digestive upsets and respiratory issues. At its core, this is about preparation as regulation. Feeling resourced sends the body a message of safety. For frequent travelers, building a kit that aligns with personal beliefs and packing it consistently allows that support to be there when it’s needed most.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[02:10] How my medical training helps me stay calm and assess emergencies while traveling[03:30] Why a small supplement kit can shift safety and change how the body responds[05:55] How charcoal and clay support digestive symptoms without disrupting balance[08:15] Why colloidal silver is used as a supportive ritual rather than a fighting tool[10:05] How cloves and oregano oil support oral, digestive, respiratory, and systemic symptoms[12:40] How I support fever, sore throat, and congestion while traveling[14:20] What changes when urinary discomfort is met with preparation instead of urgency[16:10] Why circulation support, nausea remedies, essential oils, and skin glue reduce fear[19:10] How feeling resourced can stop symptoms from escalating👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Related Reclamation Radio Episodes:Can You Catch a Cold? With Dr. Daniel Roytas | PodcastThe Truth About Parasites No One Told You Yet With Daniel Roytas | PodcastCheck out the doTERRA kits specially curated by Kelly and Clare Savage.Kelly's essential travel supplements list can be found here.Find more from Kelly:YouTube: Reclamation Radio with Kelly Brogan, MDInstagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here.You can head to lotuswei.com and use the code Kelly15 for 15% off.

Can human design and acting help you connect in a better way with other people?In this episode, I sit down with Yerasimos Stilianessis. He was raised in New Jersey by Greek immigrant parents and grew up inside a culture shaped by hard work, responsibility, and resilience. Rather than following the expected path, he chose a different direction, one marked by travel, acting and theater training, and decades of personal development work rooted in self-honesty.Acting and performance became unexpected entry points into parts work, emotional awareness, and a more nuanced relationship with the inner world. Over time, truth seeking shifted from external confrontation to internal regulation, especially in the aftermath of years spent immersed in activism.Somatic awareness, masculine embodiment, and the challenge of holding autonomy alongside connection run throughout the conversation, particularly in the context of relationships strained by opposing worldviews. Stories from growing up around Greek diners in New Jersey ground these themes in culture, lineage, and lived experience.This episode is for listeners who feel less called to persuade, and more called to live in alignment with what they know.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[04:20] How Greek diners in New Jersey shaped early identity and relational awareness[10:45] What breaking from the expected success path unlocked internally[18:30] How acting training revealed parts work and psychological depth[27:15] Why questioning health narratives became a catalyst for truth seeking[36:40] What the body exposes when speaking publicly under pressure[45:10] Why post-2020 burnout reshaped views on activism and attention[53:25] How masculine embodiment shifts from persuasion to lived values[01:01:10] Why peace and presence emerge as mature expressions of truth👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Dancing Naked in the Minefield by Dr. Kary Mullis | BookVoice Dialogue/Psychology of Selves | WebsiteHuman Design Modality | WebsiteConnect with Yerasimos:Here For The Truth | WebsiteHere For The Truth | InstagramHere For The Truth | TelegramHere For the Truth | Apple or SpotifyYerasimos | InstagramLearn more about Yerasimos 10-week journey Rise Above the Herd and use code KELLY10 for 10% off.Find more from Kelly:YouTube: Reclamation Radio with Kelly Brogan, MDInstagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here.Go to juvent.com and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase. If you’ve been on the fence, now is the time to pull the trigger: prices for the Juvent Micro-Impact Platform rise on February 21—the first price increase in 5+ years. Lock in the current price now and avoid paying more later.

You don’t need to hit rock bottom to change everything.In this episode, I sit down with James Swanwick for a grounded, honest conversation about alcohol-free living and why so many thoughtful, high-functioning people are quietly questioning their drinking. We talk about the cultural moment we’re in, the limits of traditional recovery models, and why white-knuckling never leads to freedom.I share my own path away from social drinking and what surprised me most about the shift.Mindful sobriety isn’t about deprivation; it’s about choosing a life that actually feels good to live. This episode is for anyone who is sober-curious, questioning the role of alcohol in their life, or looking for a more humane, sustainable approach to change. If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s another way, without labels, shame, or rock bottom, this conversation opens up a new perspective.Learn more about his programs here.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[06:02] Why addiction often runs on a push-pull dynamic that quietly drains energy and agency[09:38] How the cultural shift away from alcohol is emerging first in younger generations[11:54] What happens when “normal” drinking erodes health and relationships[12:47] The moment a casual drinker realizes alcohol is costing more than it gives[28:10] Why traditional recovery models often miss high-functioning, gray-area drinkers[30:45] How identity labels can freeze growth instead of supporting real change[46:12] Why focusing on desire creates more lasting change than focusing on restraint[56:58] How an alcohol-free life can feel expansive rather than restrictive👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Resources Mentioned:Clear by James Swanwick | Book or AudiobookThe Sober Truth by Lance Dodes | Book or AudiobookThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders | WebsiteRat Park: How a rat paradise changed the narrative of addiction. by Gage, S. H., & Sumnall, H. R. | ArticleRandomized controlled trial of harm reduction treatment for alcohol (HaRTA) for people experiencing homelessness and alcohol use disorder by Susan E. et al. | ArticleConnect with James:Alcohol Free Lifestyle | WebsiteSwanwick Sleep | WebsiteJames Swanwick | WikipediaJames Swanwick | InstagramFind more from Kelly:YouTube: Reclamation Radio with Kelly Brogan, MDInstagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.com Join Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here.You can head to lotuswei.com and use the code Kelly15 for 15% off.Go to juvent.com and use code KELLY300 at checkout to get $300 off your purchase.

If you feel the need to always speak your opinions, you might be “addicted” to seeking the attention of others.In this episode, I unpack one of the most charged questions I hear: how to tell whether you’re self abandoning or actually accepting reality. There are subtle ways codependency shows up, even in people who think they’re being calm, spiritual, or evolved… especially when silence becomes a strategy.Over-speaking and under-speaking, and how both can be driven by the same nervous system impulse, are two common patterns I see again and again. We talk about anxious attachment, avoidant tendencies, and the “giving to get” dynamic that drains your sense of self.You’ll also hear why trying to get someone else to see your perspective often costs more than it gives, and how real boundaries begin with knowing what you want, not managing how others live their lives. This conversation is for anyone tired of performing self-control while feeling internally split, and ready to build self-trust that doesn’t depend on being understood.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[01:02] The difference between self-abandonment and letting others live their lives[02:14] Why “giving to get” turns both silence and speaking up into self-betrayal[03:21] The subtle ways codependency hides inside helping, supporting, or being reasonable[04:28] What’s really happening when you need someone else to see your perspective[05:46] How anxious attachment drives over-explaining without meeting your actual needs[07:12] When withdrawal and invisibility start to look like maturity while eroding self-trust[09:03] How to recognize when your voice is coming from control instead of self-attunement[11:01] Why real boundaries start with knowing what you want, not managing others👉🏻 Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here.Find more from Kelly:Instagram: @kellybroganmdWebsite: kellybroganmd.comJoin Kelly's monthly membership, Vital Life Project here.Get Kelly’s new book The Reclaimed Woman here.