Why My First Pint Meant More Than the Beer

A pint. A photograph. A father’s approval.   What if your first drink wasn’t about the alcohol at all—but about being seen?   In this powerful episode, I reflect on a single, blurry photo from my childhood. I was 14, holding a pint, trying to become a man. But what I really wanted was my dad’s love.   This story isn’t just mine. It’s a quiet legacy passed down from father to son, mother to daughter—wrapped in lager, silence, and the Liquid Lie.   You’ll see how one pint became a shortcut to manhood, how alcohol stood in for connection, and how we can lead our kids differently.   If you’ve ever wondered where your drinking story really began… this episode is for you.   🎧 Listen now—and join the movement to lead a SELF-led life, AFAF. #1000DaysSoberPodcast, #LeeDavy, #STRIVE, #STRIVEMethod, #AFAF, #AlcoholFreeParenting, #FatherhoodWithoutAlcohol, #BreakingGenerationalTrauma, #AlcoholAwareness, #TheLiquidLie, #SelfLedLiving, #QuitDrinking, #SoberCurious, #GenerationalHealing

You ever try to quit drinking and end up thinking, “What the hell is wrong with me?” You’re not broken. You’re not weak. You’re just fighting the wrong enemy.   In this episode of the 1000 Days Sober Podcast, I reveal the truth about resistance—why it keeps you stuck, and why willpower has nothing to do with it. I take you back to a story from the railways, a moment when I quit smoking without a single craving for 25 years—not because I tried harder, but because I led from SELF.   This episode is about the war we wage with our protectors. About why shaming yourself never works. And about what happens when you stop yelling at your resistance… and start listening to it instead.   If you’ve ever relapsed and blamed yourself… If you’ve ever said, “I know better, but I just can’t stop…” This one’s for you.   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #TheLiquidLie #QuitDrinking #AlcoholFreeLife #SelfLedLiving #AlcoholRecovery #EmotionalIntelligence #IFS #CognitiveBehaviouralTherapy #SobrietyJourney #ResistanceHealing #WillpowerIsNotEnough #PermissionNotPunishment #HealingWithSELF #PartsWork #AlcoholTruth #LiveAFAF

Ever find yourself barking at your partner, then hating yourself for it?   I’ve been there—yelling in the kitchen, slamming doors, watching my marriage teeter on the edge… all while trying to convince myself I was “working on it.”   But I wasn’t working on it.   I was drinking through it.   And here’s the truth: you can’t fix your relationship with alcohol in the mix. You can’t talk to your partner like an adult when your PARTS are throwing a tantrum. And you can’t expect their compassion when you’ve lost access to yours.   In this episode, I share a hard-earned lesson that saved my marriage and reshaped every conflict I now face:   When adults argue, it’s usually two scared kids shouting through grown-up mouths. And the way out? Learn to speak like your partner is eight years old.   Not with condescension—but with compassion. With presence. With SELF.   If you’re alcohol-free—or trying to be—but still blowing up over bullshit, this one’s for you.     #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #alcoholfree #selfledliving #marriagetips #communicationtips #IFS #emotionallyregulation #healingrelationships #alcoholawareness #relationshipadvice #innerchildwork #alcoholrecovery #sobrietyjourney #alcoholtruth #emotionalintelligence #drinklesslivebetter

When the alcohol stops… the sugar often starts. But why?   In this eye-opening conversation with Mike Collins—aka The Sugar-Free Man—we explore the hidden trap that catches so many people after they stop drinking: sugar. Mike breaks down how sugar hijacks the brain, soothes our wounds, and becomes the silent saboteur of our emotional health.   We talk dopamine, parenting, oat milk lattes, the emotional meaning of tea, and how generational sugar rituals keep us stuck. Whether you’re trying to quit sugar, curious if you should, or just tired of the back-and-forth battle, this episode offers deep insight and a pathway to real, lasting freedom.   You don’t have to live on a rollercoaster of cravings. You can be free.   🎧 Listen in to discover: – Why sugar is often your first addiction, not your last – The dopamine deception behind cravings – How sugar sneaks in as a socially acceptable emotional crutch – Why bread may be worse than you think – How to raise sugar-conscious kids without going full monk – And the one step to take before you try quitting sugar   This isn’t about perfection. It’s about liberation.   🔗 Want to work with Mike? Visit SugarAddiction.com or join the challenge at SugarDetox.com   🔗 Want support on your alcohol-free journey? Explore the STRIVE Method and live a SELF-led life, alcohol-free-as-fuck: thestrivemethod.com   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #SugarAddiction #QuitSugar #SugarFreeLife #EmotionalEating #SugarIsADrug #AlcoholRecovery #SelfLedLiving #IFS #DopamineDetox

You’re feeling great on a first date—until they ask: “What are you drinking?”   Suddenly, the menu becomes a minefield. Do you soften the truth? Pretend you “barely drink”? Order a fake G&T?   In today’s episode, I reveal why your drink order isn’t just about thirst—it’s a litmus test for how deeply you’re living from SELF. From dodging the “I rarely drink” trap to owning your chamomile like it’s top-shelf champagne, we’re rewriting the rules of alcohol-free dating.   Because clarity isn’t awkward. It’s sexy. And your sovereignty? That’s the whole vibe.   If you’re dating while AFAF, this episode will save you hours of confusion—and years of regret.     #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #alcoholfreedating #datingwhileAF #soberlove #selfledliving #chamomileconfidence #quitdrinking #alcoholfreelifestyle

You’ve stopped drinking—but the ritual remains. The bottle. The reward. The quiet moment that’s supposed to say, “You made it.” Only now it’s Heineken 0.0 instead of Stella.   But what if that ‘safe’ substitute is doing the same job the old poison did—soothing the PART that doesn’t want to feel?   In this episode of the 1000 Days Sober Podcast, I explore the emotional truth behind alcohol-free drinks. For some—especially single mums navigating stress, loneliness, and judgment—these drinks can be a bridge to something better. A moment of calm. A safety net.   But for others? It’s a rebrand. A ritual that keeps you stuck.   If you’re wondering whether you’re truly healing—or just hiding—this one’s for you.   We cover: – Why some alcohol-free drinks are helpful stepping stones – How to spot when you’re using them to avoid discomfort – The sneaky rituals that keep you in PARTs-led patterns – How your body might be rejecting the crutch before your brain catches up – What real reward looks like in a SELF-led life, AFAF   You don’t need to panic. You just need to get honest.   Hit play and let’s find out—who’s really making the choice? You… or a PART just begging for peace?   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #AlcoholFree #NonAlcoholicBeer #QuitDrinking #AlcoholAwareness #SelfLedLife #EmotionalSobriety #SoberCurious #SingleMumLife #SelfLeadership #TheLiquidLie

You ever notice how nobody says they’re addicted to brushing their teeth? Or eating toast? But drink alcohol every day and still say you’re “fine”? That’s the power of the Liquid Lie—and its favourite trick is convincing you there’s no problem unless you’re an “addict.”   In this episode of the 1000 Days Sober Podcast, I challenge the addiction label and ask a more radical question: What if you’re not addicted at all? What if you’re just… on autopilot?   I share my own journey from drinking daily to living a SELF-led life, AFAF—not because I “hit bottom,” but because I finally woke up to the truth: Habit doesn’t mean harmless. Automatic doesn’t mean authentic.   If you’ve ever wondered why you drink on Tuesday nights… If you’re sick of diagnosing yourself instead of reclaiming your power… Then this one’s for you.   This episode will help you name the pattern, break the sequence, and choose—finally, consciously—from SELF.   Listen now.     #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #TheLiquidLie #QuitDrinking #BreakTheHabit #UnconsciousLiving #SelfLedLife #AlcoholAwareness #SobrietyMyth #AlcoholFreeLiving #EmotionalResilience #IFS #DailyRituals #ChooseFromSELF #NotAnAddict #LiveAFAF #LeeDavyCoaching

It’s the International Day Against Drug Abuse… and alcohol didn’t even make the list.   Why? Because society doesn’t treat it like a drug. And that’s exactly how the Liquid Lie survives.   In today’s episode of the 1000 Days Sober Podcast, I expose the most dangerous substance masquerading as normal: alcohol. You’ll learn why alcohol causes more deaths than cocaine, heroin, and meth combined—and yet still gets passed around at weddings like it’s a gift.   It’s not.   It’s a drug. And the more we deny that truth, the more power it has.   So let’s name it, shame it, and leave it behind.     #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #alcoholawareness #alcoholisadrug #TheLiquidLie #selfledliving #alcoholrecovery #sobrietytruth #mentalhealth #recoverycommunity #endthestigma

Ever found yourself beating yourself up after a small mistake? You miss a workout. Snap at a loved one. Lose focus at work. And suddenly, the voice kicks in: “You’re pathetic. You always screw it up.”   That voice isn’t just cruel. It’s your Inner Judge. And it might be sabotaging your sobriety.   In this episode of the 1000 Days Sober Podcast, I break down how that harsh inner critic feeds shame, triggers alcohol use, and blocks you from living a SELF-led life.   You’ll learn how to spot the Judge, respond with compassion, and build real self-trust without needing a drink to escape your failures.   🎧 Daily episodes to support your alcohol-free journey. ⭐ Share this with someone battling their inner critic—and leave a review to help others find the show.   This podcast is for anyone who’s ready to stop drinking, heal their self-worth, and finally feel proud of who they are—without alcohol.     #1000DaysSoberPodcast, #LeeDavy, #STRIVE, #STRIVEMethod, #AFAF, #TheLiquidLie, #InnerCritic, #Sobriety, #AlcoholFree, #Recovery, #SelfLeadership, #QuitDrinking, #AlcoholRecovery

You’re not paranoid. The Liquid Lie is watching you.   It knows what you click. It knows what you linger on. And it knows how to sell alcohol—without ever mentioning alcohol.   In this episode of the 1000 Days Sober Podcast, I reveal how the Liquid Lie has evolved into digital mind control. From Gmail ads to superhero movies, it’s not just selling booze—it’s programming you to crave it.   But awareness is the antidote.   Tune in to learn how to spot the manipulation, reclaim your attention, and live a SELF-led life, AFAF—where your nervous system isn’t hijacked by dopamine bait and your identity isn’t outsourced to algorithms.   Listen now to reclaim your feed, your mind, and your power.   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #TheLiquidLie #alcoholrecovery #digitalwellness #alcoholawareness #attentioneconomy #alcoholfreedom #selfledliving #quitdrinking #alcoholmarketing #dopaminemanagement #identityshift #nervoussystemhealing #reprogramming #IFS #heinekentrigger #mindspacehygiene