Why You Can’t Do Dry January, with Catherine Gray

Have you already “failed” at Dry January? If that’s the case, welcome to the club. In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Catherine Gray to unpick why you can’t just grit your teeth and get through a month off booze – and why resolutions in general are so hard to keep. We talk about what is really going on in your brain when you suddenly remove your usual drink, why your nervous system kicks off, and how shame and self‑loathing make you more likely to reach for the thing you’re trying to quit. From Dry January to doom‑scrolling, biscuits, vapes, porn, shopping and phone use, Catherine explains how our “stone age” brains are trying to survive in an ultra‑addictive modern world.​ We dig into dopamine, “little addictions”, friction, and tiny cogs of change – so you can feel informed and be a little bit kinder to yourself. If you’ve ever wondered “What’s wrong with me?” around addiction, this episode will help you realise: absolutely nothing.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

Catherine’s new book, Little Addictions, is available to buy from the 29th January 2026.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

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If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:

Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Catherine Gray

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East 

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

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