Andy Ramage Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Claire MacAskill, someone I have known for many years and watched grow in courage, confidence, and self-belief. Claire has been alcohol-free for seven years, and in that time she has transformed her health, her mindset, and her entire life. From struggling with weekend drinking to becoming a world-class marathon runner in her fifties, her story is one of resilience, consistency, and pure inspiration.We talk about everything from her early days as a grey-area drinker, to the moment she decided she wanted more from life, to running marathons around the world and qualifying for global championships. Claire’s honesty, vulnerability, and strength shine through every moment of this conversation. If you are looking for proof that life gets bigger, brighter, and more meaningful without alcohol, this episode is for you.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Claire went from weekend drinking to seven years alcohol-freeWhy removing alcohol unlocked her best fitness, mindset, and confidenceHow she became fitter and faster in her fifties than in her twentiesThe truth about heart rate, recovery, and how alcohol affects performanceWhy anxiety often disappears when alcohol disappearsThe mindset shift that turned running into her new pub and her new tribeHow self-development and authenticity became central to her alcohol-free lifeWhy is it never too late to step into your full potentialTimestamps00:00 – 02:00 The three-layer formula02:00 – 04:00 Seven years alcohol-free04:00 – 06:00 From NYC hangovers to NYC marathons06:00 – 08:00 Finding her tribe08:00 – 11:00 Sliding doors: two possible lives11:00 – 14:00 The hidden cost of ‘just one’14:00 – 17:00 Alcohol-free: the real superpower17:00 – 20:00 Consistency creates confidence20:00 – 24:00 Reborn at 4524:00 – End Medals, mindset, and meaningLinks and Resources:Join me at the Coach Business School:If this alcohol-free journey has sparked something in you and you want to help others transform their lives, come and train with me at the Coach Business School. Whether you want to get accredited as a coach or you are already qualified and ready to master the business side of coaching, I would love to guide you.👉 Explore programs and resources at coachbusiness.schoolAlready accredited?Take the next step with my Coach MBA: Marketing and Business for Accredited Coaches, the place where I help coaches build thriving and meaningful coaching businesses.👉 Learn more at coachbusiness.schoolIf Claire’s story lit something inside you, share this episode, follow the show, and join me in the growing alcohol-free movement.Let’s do this.

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Andy Garwood, a man who has completely transformed his life since going alcohol-free. Andy has lost more than 77 pounds, become fitter in his sixties than he was in his thirties, and discovered a new sense of purpose and joy. We talk about health, fitness, mindset, and how walking away from alcohol can open the door to a richer, more meaningful life. This is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to rewrite your story.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Andy transformed his health and life after quitting alcoholWhy it is never too late to start overThe power of community and connection in the alcohol-free worldHow walking, hiking, and nature can fill the space that drinking once didWhy your story can inspire others, even when you do not realise itHow living alcohol-free helps you rediscover your purpose, energy, and joyTimestamps:00:00 – 02:00 The comeback of a lifetime02:00 – 04:00 From five days on to two days off04:00 – 06:00 A father’s proudest moment06:00 – 08:30 The silent impact you’ll never see08:30 – 11:00 Boundaries and balance11:00 – 15:00 Finding your tribe15:00 – 18:30 Climbing higher, living fuller18:30 – 22:00 Adding life to your years22:00 – 26:00 The greatest gift of all26:00 – End Becoming your true selfLinks & Resources:Join me at the Coach Business School: If your alcohol-free journey has sparked something in you and you would love to help others do the same, come and train with me at the Coach Business School. Whether you want to get accredited as a coach or grow your coaching business, I will guide you every step of the way. 👉 Explore programs and free resources at coachbusiness.schoolAlready Accredited? Take the next step with my Coach MBA: Marketing and Business for Accredited Coaches, designed to help you build a thriving, purpose-driven coaching business. 👉 Learn more at coachbusiness.schoolIf you are ready to live with more energy, confidence, and purpose, this episode will show you what is truly possible. Let’s do this.

In this episode, I tackle one of the biggest questions I get asked: Can alcohol moderation actually work? After 12 years on this alcohol-free adventure, I’ve seen it all, from people who transform their lives during a break to those who try to “drink on their terms” and end up right back where they started. I unpack what moderation really means, why willpower alone doesn’t work, and the truth behind those “just one or two” nights that never stay that way.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What moderation really looks like (and why it rarely lasts)The neuroscience behind why alcohol hijacks your brainWhy willpower isn’t a long-term strategyThe illusion of “social drinking” and how it keeps people stuckThe difference between a moderation mindset and a mostly dry mindsetWhy going alcohol-free unlocks energy, joy, and true freedomTimestamps:00:00 – 01:00 The myth of moderation01:00 – 03:00 The post-break trap03:00 – 05:00 What moderation really means05:00 – 07:00 The science of willpower07:00 – 08:30 The prefrontal shutdown08:30 – 10:00 The illusion of control10:00 – 12:00 Mostly dry vs moderation12:00 – 14:00 The non-drinker in disguise14:00 – 17:00 Alcohol is a drug, full stop17:00 – End Taste, truth, and freedomLinks & Resources:Join me at the Coach Business School: If your alcohol-free journey has inspired you to help others, coaching might be your next step. Whether you want to get accredited as a coach or you’re already qualified and want to grow your business, I’ll guide you through both world-class coach training and business mastery.👉 Explore programs and free resources at coachbusiness.schoolAlready Accredited? Join my Coach MBA - Marketing and Business for Accredited Coaches, and learn how to turn your passion into a thriving, purpose-driven career. 👉 Learn more at coachbusiness.schoolIf you’re questioning moderation or curious about life beyond alcohol, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to make the choice that truly serves you. Let’s do this.

In person with Matt Pink on Alcohol Free and SpiritualityA deeper, slower conversation to open the new in-person era. Andy sits down with friend and creator Matt Pink to explore what really unfolds after going alcohol free. The chat ranges from grief and gratitude to spirituality, men’s work, and the courage to live fully in the present. Matt shares the encounter that jolted him back to life, the love story that followed, lessons from a professionally guided retreat, and why removing alcohol creates the space for meaning, purpose, and real connection.What you will hearOrigin storyHow chance, inspiration, and early alcohol free experiments led Matt to change his life and identity.Spirituality without the labels Why many rediscover a personal spiritual practice once alcohol is removed, and how that supports courage, clarity, and calm.Grief, love, and gratitude Finding light in the darkest moments, becoming a present dad, and choosing growth over victimhood.Real talk about sobriety The highs, the hard bits, and why comfort habits can box us in while stilling the mind open up new possibilities.Creating work with heart Building useful things in the world, facing real-world constraints, and meeting them all with a firm step.Timestamps00:00 – 02:00 The power of presence02:00 – 04:30 The alcohol-free ripple effect04:30 – 07:30 A message from beyond07:30 – 10:30 The stranger who saved my life10:30 – 14:00 Finding faith in something bigger14:00 – 17:00 Alcohol vs spirituality17:00 – 21:00 Defining your own version of God21:00 – 25:00 Gratitude, loss, and love25:00 – 32:00 Beyond the past32:00 – End The next chapter of awakeningMentionedJourney of Souls by Michael NewtonRich Roll podcastDry app and community called DRYYWork with AndyIf you feel called to coach or to add more meaning and purpose to your work, explore Andy’s six-month Diploma in Positive Psychology and Diploma in Professional Coach Business & Marketing. Qualified coaches can join the Coach Business School for marketing and business training. 👉 Explore programs and free resources at coachbusiness.school

Taking a break for this series. We will be back soon with the in-person podcast!! Stay tuned for more updates.

There is a disconnect between investments of true value and the material.I was guilty of spending more on material possessions than on my development. I was more concerned with servicing my car than my mind and body.Then I invested in my first-ever book on self-development, Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins, and my life changed.Just imagine investing in a book that fundamentally changes the way you think, behave and feel. In my opinion, books are the most wonderful value of all development tools.As I finished the book, I realised that investing in my personal growth was the best investment I could ever make for myself and my family.With a mindset that personal growth is of critical importance, I started to find the courses, books and learning that transformed my life.Over the coming years, I took as many courses as I could afford, and each one taught me something that I still use today - this is a great return on investment you will never find in a bank.The self-development genius Jim Rohn sums it up beautifully, “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job, you can make a living. If you work hard on yourself, you can make a fortune."So whether you pick up a book or take a course, put self-development at the top of your list, because it might prove the best investment you ever make.Your coach AndyPS - The best investment I EVER made into my life, career and happiness was to become a coach 12 years ago. Now I am on a personal mission to pass on this gift to a small group. In July I will run my 6-month treble accredited Diploma in Positive Psychology & Coaching, with a massive bonus, I will also train the group as Alcohol-Free Performance Coaches.Click here to potentially make the greatest investment of your life!PPS - Already a coach? You have two options:Take my coaching specialism in Alcohol-Free Performance CoachingJoin my Coach Business School and take my world-class Coach MBA!

Today I launch a brand new course:The Coach MBA (Marketing & Business training for Accredited coaches).Last week I was with my old broking firm in the city of london.And it hit me.How wonderfully things have changed.It was not long ago I told myself I was a drinker and I might as well just get on with it.When I asked my old boss if the company would pay for my MBA.He retorted, “How the F will that make me any more money?”And followed it up with,“Don’t try and be someone you are not!”He was also saying you are a drinking, it’s what you are good at. People like you because you drink. You’re great fun and an entertainer.They don’t care about your education!My boss was both right and terrbilly wrong.He was right when he said don’t try to be someone you are not.But he had mistaken me for the person that alcohol created.The real me, the authentic me, was bursting to be free.The real me want to learn, grow and develop!I quit that job.Everyone said I was mad.But I knew it had to be done.And I trained as a coach.Went back to university part-time.Quit alcohol.Wrote a book…And the rest as they say is now history.Here is the point:Life is one massive self-fulfilling prophecy, and the stories we tell about ourselves always come true.For decades, I told a story that I was a drinker. It was just who I was. It did not matter that my health was suffering, I was overweight, unfit, unhealthy, unmotivated and at times unhappy. This was my story and I was sticking to it. I, along with too many people, had fallen into the trap and believed that who I was is who I will always be.When we look into the past for clues of how to behave in the present, we create a litany of similar behaviours. So you quickly get trapped in a loop.Like Sisyphus, cursed by the Gods to forever push a boulder to the top of a hill, only to see it roll back down again. ‘I haven’t done this before, I failed at something similar, I could never give up the booze, this always happens to me, I am going to give up trying to give up, I can’t do this, I am rubbish at this type of thing….. The list goes on and on.Our past story keeps repeating in the present, which paves the way for our future.Unless you wake up.And realise that your future is unwritten.Today, you can write a new story. The story of the life you always wanted to leadThe person you always wanted to become.Within a few days or weeks, this will become your past!And you will have transformed your future. It is so simple.Don’t look back to decide your future. Write a new story in the present until your past reflects the future you desires!Let me ask you a question - is it time you told a different story?And what is the story you are going to tell today?Your Coach,AndyPS - One of the best ways to tell a new story is to come and learn with me for the next 6 months and become a coach. During this time, you can rewrite the present and create the future you always dreamed! All you need to do is be brave enough to take action. Click here to find out how I can help you become a coach.PPS - Already a coach? You have two options:Take my coaching specialism in Alcohol-Free Performance CoachingJoin my Coach Business School and take my world-class Coach MBA!

After recently re-watching the amazing, yet slightly unnerving, Gene Wilder in the classic film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.I could not get the following verse from the song ‘Pure Imagination’ out of my head:‘If you want to see paradise, just take a look around and view it’’ Sometimes enlightenment comes from the strangest places, and this sentence really struck a chord.And following my long Camino walk I came to the realisation that paradise is very often all around us, we just have to open our eyes and see it. The problem with modern living is that we are in such a rush to be busy in our busy lives that we miss the paradise right under our noses. Lives run at warp speed, and whilst we chase emails, social media and 21st century living there is a danger that we miss so many of life’s great moments. When you throw in a few hangovers, our focus narrows further. Life becomes a ball of stress, worry and mental distraction that drags away from the beauty of the present moment. One of the great benefits of going alcohol free is that you regain some time and space back to slow down a little. By slowing down I don’t mean dropping out or losing your edge, I simply mean staying present in the moment and enjoying whats happening around you. On a personal note, once I stopped drinking I regained the motivation to explore my inner world and discovered mindfulness meditation. The ancient practice is such a wonderful skill to enhance ones ability to stay present and enjoy life in the moment. Without sounding overdramatic, my world started to open up in ways I had never experienced before.A classic example was my walk to work. Like most of us, I had walked this walk hundreds of times with the sole purpose of getting from A to B. My head was full of worries, concerns or to-dos for the day ahead. I was running on autopilot, the lights were on, but nobody was home. I was a perfect city worker clone. Running in the rat race of life. But one day, as my mindfulness practice developed, I did something crazy - I lifted my head, slowed my walk and looked around me. I opened my ears to the noise of the city and discovered that I could hear birds singing. I noticed flowers that I never knew existed in tiny green oasis that had previously slipped under my radar. It was as if I was viewing this same old route for the very first time. It was simple, I was learning to stay in the present moment.And right in this moment, I did not have to worry or threat about the day ahead. I could deal with these concerns when the time came.  Right now on my short walk to the office I could simply breathe deep and enjoy life. This was such a liberating feeling, as well as a powerful indicator of positive change in my life. Mindfulness was starting to make sense to me. It was not about sitting around doing nothing, trying to clear your mind all day. It was actually about building skills to notice the world around you in the moment and learning to enjoy its beauty without mental distraction about the past or future. Learning to cultivate a slower, more mindful pace will start to reveal little moments of paradise that were previously unnoticed. Perhaps you will find them in the beauty of nature, the taste of a home-cooked meal, the eyes of your loving partner, the softness of your child’s hand in yours. These are little moments of paradise on earth, right under your nose, all you have to do is look around and view them. Here’s an idea - today, try to spend just a few minutes totally present in the moment. You can take any situation, the coffee shop, the chat with your child after school, the walk outside - whatever it is, just slow down, stay present, aim to keep your mind from chasing worries into the past or future and simply stay with the moment. Breathe deeply as you do and see if you can find your little bit of paradise.Your coach Andy PS - FREE workshop tonight! Come and join me and learn all about coaching and how it can provide the mearningful learning you seek. 50% of our coaches take our course for self-development and career advancement! The other 50% to become part-time or full time coaches! So we have you covered! Click here to join me tonight on Zoom

It is great to be back, buzzing around my local woods and london!I was re-reading a book on my way to meet a coaching client.And a line struck me“We grow more by getting it wrong than by getting it right.” Richard RhorWhat a great truth.This message appears throughout the ages of ages within the great texts, myths and stories. There is a fall before the rise. The stumble before the stand. The death and renewal story, the Phoenix from the flames and night into day. The signs are there, yet, too many run from failure, too many stay small, hiding in the comfort zone of life.A slip is critical to our growth. And I am fortunate enough to witness the falling, to rise on a daily basis, through my mission to help people transform their relationship with alcohol. This is why the story is continually told. You can’t choose your falling, it’s something that happens to you, and it hurts.The job loss, break up, addiction, problem, illness, or bereavement are a few of many examples. I have witnessed the fall and rise so many times that it all makes sense. When life puts you on your backside, you uncover your mortality. The shortness of life is revealed along with a crack in the ego that allows you to see with new eyes. As the genius, Leonard Cohen, sings,” There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.” Old ways of behaving appear trivial, and you hear a new story, one that gifts you the space to change, grow and learn. A glimpse of your true, authentic self is revealed, which is life's greatest discovery.Problems are a gift that helps us to grow. They don’t feel like this at the time, and if you’re in the midst of what feels like a terrible burden, perhaps this is your opportunity to rise and come back stronger, to experience the true meaning of your life. But during the fall, you only feel the pain; it's not until you rise that the significance of the fall is revealed.You will find new eyes to view your world. To embrace and savour what’s truly important. So while it might hurt right now, just imagine that you are on the verge of something special. Your biggest obstacle is a chance for victory. As Marcus Aurelius points out,"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." AndyPS - I am biased, but one of the greatest ways to turn your defeats into victories is to learn how to coach and provide help to those who are facing the same struggles you have now overcome.This is your fast pass to a life of contribution.All you need to do is be brave enough to take action. Click here to find out how I can help you become a coach.PPS - Already a coach? You have two options:Take my coaching specialism in Alcohol-Free Performance CoachingJoin my Coach Business School and take my world-class Coach MBA!

Discover the challenges of staying sober at social events, especially after an exhausting trip. Explore how asking the right questions can shift your mindset and combat negativity. Delve into the pitfalls of moderation and realize that true freedom in alcohol-free living comes from a transformative mindset rather than simply limiting drinks. Hear about an exciting new retreat designed to help individuals rediscover their purpose while navigating life's adventures.