Andy Ramage Podcast

In this episode, I share the extraordinary story of Neil Rutherford. A man who went from chronic illness, burnout, and quiet despair to reclaiming his health, identity, and purpose through lifestyle medicine and living alcohol free.Neil’s journey is not about willpower. It is about removing the one variable that was quietly sabotaging everything else. Alcohol. What followed was not just weight loss or better blood results, but a complete shift in how he lives, leads, and shows up for his family and the world.This conversation is living proof that the body wants to heal when you stop breaking it.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why alcohol is the most overlooked lifestyle medicine variableHow removing alcohol accelerates every other health interventionThe link between drinking, inflammation, anxiety, and chronic illnessWhy confidence without alcohol becomes internal and sustainableHow identity shifts after health transformationWhy lifestyle change beats medication aloneThe ripple effect of one person choosing an alcohol free lifeHow purpose often emerges after healingWhy men struggle in silence and how coaching changes thatWhat freedom actually feels like on the other sideTimestamps00:00 – 02:00 Neil’s introduction and why this story matters02:00 – 04:00 Recruitment culture, identity, and drinking as normal04:00 – 06:00 Obesity, anxiety, depression, and the hidden cost of alcohol06:00 – 08:00 Quitting alcohol and discovering time, clarity, and choice08:00 – 10:00 Lifestyle medicine, plant-based nutrition, and healing begin10:00 – 12:00 Reversing diabetes, liver damage, and chronic inflammation12:00 – 14:00 Gout, Christmas, and the moment everything changed14:00 – 16:00 Anxiety, nervous system recovery, and real calm16:00 – 18:00 Identity shift and becoming an Alcohol Free Warrior18:00 – End Purpose, coaching, leadership, and the ripple effect of changeIf this episode resonated and you want to take your alcohol free journey deeper, I highly recommend checking out Authentic Brew. It is a functional alcohol free drink designed to elevate energy, focus, and connection without the crash, the compromise, or the hangover. It is a powerful tool for anyone upgrading their lifestyle.If you want to get accredited as a coach, come and join me at Coach Business School. I am there to guide you through the training and support you every step of the way.If you are already an accredited coach and want to master the business and marketing side of coaching, join me inside Coach MBA.I would love to see you in training very soon.Let’s do this.

In this episode, I share seven powerful ways to not just survive Christmas alcohol free but absolutely love it. This is your chance to step into January already energised, focused, and flying while everyone else is trying to recover from December.You will learn how to create new Christmas rituals, upgrade your festive drinks, protect your energy, set boundaries with kindness, and give your loved ones the greatest present of all. Your presence.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow to flip the script on Christmas and love it alcohol freeWhy December is the most powerful month to take a breakSeven practical strategies that make Christmas more joyfulHow to stay energised, connected and fully presentWhy going alcohol free turns you into a connection superpowerHow to show up as the real you for the people you loveTimestamps00:00 – 02:00 Why Christmas is the ultimate alcohol free challenge02:00 – 04:00 How December builds bulletproof momentum04:00 – 06:00 Focusing on the wins instead of what you lose06:00 – 08:00 Creating new uplifting Christmas rituals08:00 – 10:00 Upgrading your festive drinks the smart way10:00 – 12:00 Reclaiming your energy and your time12:00 – 14:00 Becoming more connected and more present14:00 – 16:00 Setting boundaries with kindness16:00 – 18:00 The greatest gift you can give your loved ones18:00 – End Bringing it all together and stepping into January strongIf you want to train with me and become an accredited coach, check out Coach Business School.If you are already accredited and want to learn the skills of business and marketing, join me in Coach MBA.And if you are embracing the alcohol free lifestyle, join DRYY, our incredible community and app.Plus, for functional festive drinks that elevate your energy without the hangover, visit Authentic Brew.Let’s do this!

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Mudie to talk about one of the most powerful stories I have ever been part of. Mike went from achieving the biggest professional success of his life straight into complete physical collapse. His body shut down. He could not walk. He could not lift a fork. And no one in traditional medicine could explain why.What followed was a six-month healing journey into holistic health, nature-based medicine, and reconnection with the body. That journey led to something extraordinary. Together, we explore how his burnout became the birth of Authentic Brew, a functional wellness drink powered by mushrooms, botanicals, and pure Mother Nature.This conversation is about more than business. It is about listening to your body, understanding burnout, the power of nature, and why sometimes life has to break you before it rebuilds you.What You Will Learn in This Episode:What burnout really looks like when your body completely shuts downWhy traditional medicine sometimes misses the root causeHow nature and holistic healing helped Mike recover his healthWhy disconnection from nature is making so many people unwellThe real story behind the creation of Authentic BrewWhy most so-called energy and health drinks are misleadingHow functional wellness can replace stimulants and alcoholWhy your darkest moment can become your biggest missionHow we are using business to rewild people and placesTimestamps: (podcast)00:00 – 02:40 Introduction and Mike’s background02:40 – 06:30 Career success followed by complete physical collapse06:30 – 10:20 When the body shuts down and doctors cannot explain why10:20 – 14:30 Discovering holistic healing and listening to the body14:30 – 18:10 Lessons from nature and the path to real recovery18:10 – 22:30 How burnout became the birth of Authentic Brew22:30 – 26:00 Functional wellness versus mainstream energy drinks26:00 – 30:40 Mushrooms, botanicals, and how they change daily performance30:40 – 35:20 Rewilding people and places through business35:20 – 40:10 From collapse to contribution and mission40:10 – End Final reflections, purpose, and what Mike wants people to take awayLinks and Resources:Discover Authentic BrewIf you want to experience a daily dose of wellness powered by Mother Nature and support the mission to rewild people and places, explore Authentic Brew and join the Authentic Brew Crew here: 👉 authenticbrew.comJoin me at the Coach Business SchoolIf you feel inspired by this episode and want to turn your own life experience into impact through coaching, you can 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. 👉 coachbusiness.schoolAlready Accredited?Join my Coach MBA: Marketing and Business for Accredited Coaches to build a confident, sustainable, and purpose-driven coaching business. 👉 coachbusiness.schoolIf this conversation moved you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Someone on the edge of burnout. Someone on the edge of change. Someone searching for something more real.Let’s do this.

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!