1000 Days Sober Podcast

• James Swanwick: Why High Achievers Struggle With Alcohol (And How to Stop)

  High performers think they should have everything handled — except this one thing. In this conversation, James Swanwick breaks down why entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, lawyers, investors, and other high achievers get trapped in alcohol-reliance… and why quitting feels harder for them than anyone else.   Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:   • The hidden emotional drivers behind high achievers’ drinking — stress, regret, unmet expectations, and the belief “I should be further ahead by now” • Why willpower destroys long-term success, and James’ “flipperooni” method that rewires your desire at the root • How cultural conditioning, parents, celebrities, films, music and “smiling assassins” keep even intelligent people stuck • Why thinking about drinking (even when you’re not drinking) drains your cognitive bandwidth and hurts marriage, parenting, and business performance • The identity shift that terrifies high performers — and how James helps clients build a new SELF-led identity without alcohol • What actually happens when you stop drinking: clarity, sleep, weight loss, emotional stability, and better financial decisions • Why high achievers transform faster and more completely when they join a like-minded tribe who hold them accountable   If this episode lands for you, support the show:   Subscribe to the 1000 Days Sober Podcast so you never miss an episode. Rate and leave a review — your feedback helps more people find this work. Comment and share this episode with someone who needs it. Follow @leedavycoaching for the alternative view on everything alcohol-free. Follow James at @jamesswanwick on Instagram and learn more at Alcohol-Free Lifestyle.   #1000DaysSoberPodcast, #LeeDavy, #STRIVE, #JamesSwanwick, #AlcoholFreeLifestyle, #QuitDrinking, #AlcoholAwareness, #HighAchievers, #SelfLedLife

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• Who Am I Without Alcohol? Fun, Sex, and Fitting In Without the Booze

  Who Am I Without Alcohol? Fitting In, ADHD & Alcohol-Free Sexiness With Keelie Louise   You’re scared that without alcohol… you won’t fit in, you won’t be fun, and you won’t even know who you are.   Keelie Louise (aka The Sober Hype Girl) started drinking at 13 and stopped at 38. For most of her life she believed alcohol was the only time she felt free, fun, sexy, and like “herself.” In this conversation, we rip that story apart and rebuild it from the ground up.   We go deep into what really happens when you take alcohol out of the picture: identity, relationships, sex, energy, ADHD, anxiety, depression, dating, divorce, the whole lot.   If alcohol has become your personality, this one will sting in all the right ways.   Here’s what we talk about:   • Why people are terrified to ask: “Who am I without alcohol?” • How drinking to “fit in” slowly proves you never actually fitted in at all • The big fear of not being “fun” anymore – and what real fun looks like alcohol-free • Going from black-and-white existence to “life in colour” after four years without drinking • ADHD, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts – and why alcohol felt like fake freedom • How energy, sleep, food, and movement change when you stop poisoning your system • The paradox of friendships and social circles when you remove alcohol from your life • Boredom fears, 30 days versus 90 days, and why most people never give themselves a real chance • What “sexy” looks like drunk vs what sexy looks like when you actually like yourself • Sober sex, intimacy, validation and using sex as a way to feel “enough” • Masculine and feminine dynamics, and why so many relationships fracture when one person grows • How to know when a relationship is over, and why your body often tells the truth before your mind does • Dating alcohol-free, non-negotiables, boundaries and why meeting at bars stopped making sense • Why coaching and community matter when you don’t even know who you are without the drink • Practical first steps if you suspect alcohol is the problem (and why you can “always go back” – but probably won’t want to)   If you’re asking yourself, “Who will I be without alcohol?” this episode gives you a brutally honest, hopeful look at what’s on the other side.   Subscribe to the 1000 Days Sober Podcast and share this episode with one person who is terrified they won’t fit in if they stop drinking.   And if you want help understanding your relationship with alcohol – and how to change it – email me at [email protected]   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #AlcoholFree #AlcoholRecovery #AlcoholAwareness #AlcoholFreeLife #StopDrinking #MindfulDrinking #TheSoberHypeGirl #KeelieLouise #ADHD #Anxiety #Depression #MentalHealth #Relationships #DatingAlcoholFree #MasculineAndFeminine #SelfWorth #HealingJourney #PersonalGrowth #LifeInColour

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• Why So Many Men Never Grow Up — and How Sobriety Forces You To

  What happens when you finally grow out of a version of yourself that no longer fits?   In this intimate conversation with poet Roberto “Bert” Pastori, we explore the messy, chaotic, beautiful journey from drinking as an identity to discovering a life defined by consciousness, creativity, and genuine connection.   Bert and I dig into why alcohol felt like freedom when we were young, how masculinity traps men into emotional silence, and what really happens when you outgrow your friend group but stay in the same body, the same culture, and the same expectations.   This one goes deep into identity, community, fear, creativity, and the Liquid Lie that tells us alcohol is necessary for art, love or belonging.   If you’ve ever wondered why it’s so hard to “leave things behind” — or why becoming AFAF forces you to confront the parts of your life you could previously drink away — this conversation will resonate.   Discussion Points   • How alcohol becomes part of your identity long before you notice it happening • The romantic lie linking creativity with drinking • Chaos, noise and blurriness — and why some of us found comfort in it • Why men drink to express affection they’re too afraid to show sober • How outgrowing your friend group creates guilt, shame and disconnection • Authenticity vs. the “act” we play when others are drunk • Neuroception, safety and why drunk behaviour activates old survival patterns • Why giving up alcohol often reveals hidden fears around uncertainty and control • The loneliness of becoming more conscious when others stay the same • Why young people are rejecting drinking and seeking sober spaces • How writing offers a gateway into your inner world • Poetry as a record of being alive — and why so many ex-drinkers rediscover it • The Liquid Lie’s influence on artists, musicians and the myth of needing substances • Mortality, memory, blackouts and the terrifying fear of what you might have done • Friendship, community, trust — and how to build relationships as an adult without alcohol Connect with Bert Buy Graveyards on Other Planets wherever you get your books. Or order directly from Parthian: parthianbooks.com CTA   If you want a unique perspective on alcohol reliance and living a SELF-led life, follow me on Instagram at @leedavycoaching.   If you want a community that will help you break free from alcohol and stay free, join the STRIVE Discord Community.   And please support Bert’s work by buying Graveyards on Other Planets. You’ll love it.   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #AlcoholFree #AlcoholReliance #Creativity #Poetry #RecoveryJourney #MenAndAlcohol #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #ConsciousLiving #LiquidLie #SobrietyStories #WritersLife #Cardiff #SelfLedLife

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• Sean Hemeon: Growing Up Mormon, Coming Out Gay, and Getting Sober

  When your faith tells you your identity is a sin—where do you turn? In this deeply human conversation, Sean Hemeon shares what it was like to grow up gay in the Mormon Church, find temporary relief in alcohol, and eventually reclaim his spirituality, creativity, and SELF.   We talk about: • Growing up gay in the Mormon Church and the shame that shaped his early years • How alcohol became both a mask and a form of relief • Losing faith—and finding a deeper spirituality beyond religion • Sobriety and self-acceptance as acts of radical love • What it means to be a sober actor in Hollywood • Why creativity without substances is the truest expression of the SELF   This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt “different,” hidden behind a mask, or searched for belonging in all the wrong places.   If Sean’s story resonates, please share this episode with someone who needs it—and if you need help becoming alcohol-free-as-f***, reach out to me at [email protected].   You can contact Sean Hemeon directly at [email protected].   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #STRIVEMethod #AFAF #LivingASelfLedLife #SobrietyJourney #FaithAndIdentity #SpiritualAwakening #AlcoholFree #QueerRecovery #MormonFaith #SelfAcceptance #EmotionalHealing #CreativityAndSobriety #HollywoodSobriety

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• The Lost Years: How Alcohol, Shame, and Self-Discovery Shape Who We Become

  What if the “worst” years of your life were actually the beginning of your healing?   In this conversation with Lindsey Van Wagner, author of Spirit Vigilante, we explore how redefining addiction as sickness, not badness can open the door to grace, self-understanding, and freedom. Lindsey shares her raw story of living with bipolar II disorder, the lies she told to survive, and how she learned to turn self-hatred into self-compassion.   We dive into: – The Lost Years — why reframing chaos as illness changed everything – The Forever Question — how to stop obsessing about never again and win today instead – Lies as a Second Job — the freedom that comes when you stop managing alibis – Willingness and Surrender — how to put your ego down without putting yourself down – Inside-Out Living — taking your power back from partners, parties, and promotions   If you’re struggling with alcohol-reliance and want freedom without shame, reach out to me at [email protected]. To grab Lindsey’s book Spirit Vigilante, you’ll find it on Amazon, and you can follow her journey on Instagram @spiritvigilante.   Much love & STRIVE on! – Lee   #1000DaysSoberPodcast #LeeDavy #STRIVE #SpiritVigilante #AlcoholFreeAsFuck #SelfLedLife #IFS #BipolarRecovery #HealingJourney #TraumaRecovery #AddictionAwareness #PersonalGrowth #SelfCompassion #TheLiquidLie #AFCommunity #STRIVEMethod #STRIVEFoundations #GraceOverShame #AlcoholFreeLiving

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