The Sophisticated Machine: Why Big Alcohol Marketing Works on Intelligent People With Coach Victoria English

Are your thoughts about alcohol driving you into a spiral of anxiety? Coach Matt reveals the critical difference between spontaneous thoughts and the active process of thinking. Learn how engaging with uncomfortable thoughts creates unnecessary suffering and activates the brain's Default Mode Network, leading to chronic rumination. Discover the neuroscience of "Rosy Retrospection" and why 90% of what we fear never actually occurs. This episode provides practical tools for mindful awareness and logical detachment, helping you realize that "thoughts are not facts" so you can navigate your alcohol-free journey with peace, clarity, and self-trust.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Is the fear of being "no fun" or "losing your edge" keeping you stuck in old habits? Coach Matt dives into the neuroscience of social connection, explaining how our "lizard brain" views exclusion as a threat to survival. Discover why your worry about other people's opinions is often based on false evidence appearing real (FEAR) and how to trade tribal conformity for decisive leadership. This episode reveals the "Power of One", the psychological effect where being the first to choose an alcohol-free life often empowers those around you to follow. Learn how to silence the noise, firm up your new identity, and live on your own terms with confidence and authenticity.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Are "incomplete thoughts" and mental clutter keeping your brain in a loop of stress? Coach Matt reveals why your brain treats suppressed emotions as unfinished work and how a simple 5-minute journaling sequence can act as neurological repair. Discover the science of affect labeling, labeling emotions to discharge their power, and learn three specific methods to shift from an overwhelmed amygdala to a rational prefrontal cortex. This episode provides a structured toolkit to turn your recent challenges into empowering feedback, helping you build the neuroplasticity required for a high-performance, alcohol-free life.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Suddenly feeling a "short fuse" now that you've stopped drinking? Coach Matt reveals why anger is a common gateway emotion in the early alcohol-free days and how to navigate the neurological "glutamate rebound" that causes irritability . Discover why anger is often a self-protective mask for underlying grief or shame and how to distinguish between healthy, acute anger and a toxic angry state . Learn practical grounding techniques and boundary-setting strategies to transform your frustration into a powerful compass for identifying unmet needs and reclaiming your emotional freedom .   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Think your drinking habits are a matter of discipline? Victoria English reveals they may actually be a result of sophisticated influence. Discover how Big Alcohol spends billions to frame a Class 1 carcinogen as a tool for "sophistication" and "wellness." Learn the science of the "neurochemical rebound", how alcohol doesn't relax you, but sedates you before triggering a spike in cortisol and glutamate. This episode breaks down the truth behind modern meta-analyses that debunk "heart-healthy" myths, inviting you to trade industry-backed ambiguity for the data-driven clarity of an alcohol-free lifestyle.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Think quitting alcohol is all about sacrifice? Coaches Jason and Matt reveal the "Four Funny Blessings" that high achievers discover on the other side of the bottle . From the "blessing" of losing shallow drinking buddies to rediscovering genuine fun at concerts and theme parks without a drop of "liquid courage," this episode explores the profound ROI of an alcohol-free life . Learn how to transform your relationships from "black and white sketches" into three-dimensional connections and why internalizing your happiness is the ultimate leadership skill . It's time to stop chasing the "dangling carrot" and start enjoying an alcohol-free journey defined by integrity, clarity, and true intimacy .   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Is the new food pyramid protecting your health or industry profits? Victoria English breaks down the "historic reset" of nutritional guidelines and the startling lack of clarity regarding alcohol.  While sugar is finally being named as a physiological risk, alcohol guidance has become strategically vague, trading specific drink counts for undefined "small amounts." Learn why the term "responsible drinking" is a strategic marketing tool designed to individualize risk while ignoring that alcohol is a Class 1 carcinogen. This episode invites you to drown out the noise of big alcohol lobbying and listen to your own "internal compass" to reclaim your health and mental clarity.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Think journaling is just "dear diary"? Coaches Matt and Jason reveal the neuroscience that makes it a vital tool for high-performing, alcohol-free living. Learn how the physical act of pen-to-paper pulls your attention and your brain's reward circuits into the same moment, tagging your wins as "real" and important to hardwire. Discover how to use journaling to offload the "busy brain," transform a victim mentality into agency, and find the courage to embrace uncertainty in 2026. Whether it's a "breakup letter" to alcohol or a daily "G20" gratitude practice, discover how writing reveals the road ahead with clarity.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Does intimacy feel scary without "liquid courage"? Coaches Jason and Matt dive into the multi-layered world of alcohol-free intimacy, moving beyond the physical to explore conversational and emotional connection. Learn how alcohol offlines your prefrontal cortex, causing you to rely on reflex rather than genuine attraction. Discover practical strategies for navigating the dating scene with boundaries, identifying underlying needs versus impulsive wants, and using vulnerable communication to build a relationship that is authentic, healthy, and deeply fulfilling.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear

Does staying alcohol-free feel like an obligation or a constant battle? Coach Jason reveals a surprisingly simple yet scientifically measurable mindset tool: the shift from "I have to" to "I get to." Discover how this reframe moves you out of your survival-based limbic system and activates your prefrontal cortex, the seat of discipline and self-control. Learn why "I have to" reinforces resistance while "I get to" naturally boosts dopamine, turning your alcohol-free journey from a punishment into an empowering life of possibility and mental clarity.   Download my FREE guide: The Alcohol Freedom Formula For Over 30s Entrepreneurs & High Performers: https://social.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/podcast ★ - Learn more about Project 90: www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/Project90 ★ - (Accountability & Support) Speak verbally to a certified Alcohol-Free Lifestyle coach to see if, or how, we could support you having a better relationship with alcohol: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/schedule ★ - The wait is over – My new book "CLEAR" is now available. Get your copy here: https://www.alcoholfreelifestyle.com/clear