

Ep 113 - Brendan Brazier and Mark McTavish: Game changers of alcohol for fitness
Brendan Brazier and Mark McTavish are the game changers of alcohol. The two entrepreneurs are pioneering new growth in a market of drinks steeped in wellness and nutritional benefits. Through a vegan mindset and ethical stance, they’re sharing the benefits of alcoholic elixirs, whether it’s probiotics or the zero sugar, to prove there’s new way of drinking for everyone.
Watch the full episode on YouTube
Brendan Brazier is a vegan triathlete and entrepreneur. After discovering nutritional ways to combat his own health conditions, Brendan started Vega – a plant-based drink to aid performance, with protein, essential fats, fibre, greens and more.
Brendan was also an executive producer for the plant-based Netflix film, The Game Changers, alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Cameron, Jackie Chan and countless others passionate about diet and nutrition.
Mark McTavish is the president of 101 Cider House, a devoted cider fan and a lover of artistic beverages. With a juxtaposed background in fitness and the Canadian craft beer industry, Mark moved to south California to combine his passions in a fermented fruit drink that brings the enjoyment of alcohol with the benefits of probiotics and craft cider.
Mark McTavish discovered the simplest way to make an alcoholic beverage, inspired by the organic sidras of northern Spain.
101 ciders contain zero residual sugar and no carbs, just 100% fresh pressed juice, full of naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria that ferment the base cider. To that, the team adds fresh fruits and herbs for flavor, and then everything is conditioned in the bottle (or keg). It’s also probiotic, gluten free and vegan friendly!
Now Mark has teamed up with Brendan to promote the benefits of healthy eating, healthy drinking and a mindset that means you can achieve anything.
Episode highlights -
- Discover the new cold pressed juice that’s been fermented – a healthy alcoholic drink with uplifting effects. Benefits include no dehydration, improved digestion and intestinal flora, and even nootropic qualities.
- How to go about the gritty world of brand building, creating a product and getting it out there.
- Why many athletes believe that a plant-based diet will help with everything from getting rid of inflammation, improving digestion, increasing strength and feeling better overall.
- The difference between veganism, a plant-based diet, being a vegetarian and other nutritional trends or marketing terms.
- How a lot of the opinions surrounding dietary decisions are based upon commercialisation of a food system that doesn’t work.
- Why fear and laziness are the biggest contributors to not making better decisions with anything in life.
- How common ground can be destroyed by labels and naming conventions, and why division is not going to benefit anyone in regards to progressive nutrition choices.
- Why sprouted and fermented foods are so healthy for you, and can help with a multitude of gastronomic issues or conditions.
- Why a change in your diet will unlock the nuances of flavour after your tastebuds become recalibrated.
- How multi-layered distribution channels, price influences and margins are not currently conducive to a system that gives consumers healthy products when it comes to alcohol.
- Why we all have a stress threshold and how we can concentrate on productive stress while letting go of anything we can’t control.
Join Matthew Januszek in conversation with Brendan Brazier and Mark McTavish…