• 161. The Real Reason Your Friends Can’t Take ‘No’ for an Answer
    Feb 25 2026

    Hi, text me anytime 🤗

    You've made a clear decision about your drinking trajectory for the night, you’re feeling comfortable and confident about it, yet some people can’t quite seem to accept “No thanks” for an answer.

    It’s not about you. This is their issue… but why?

    These are the five personality types you'll encounter when you start drinking differently. From the Validator to the Controller, and once you understand what each type actually needs from you, their reactions make a lot more sense. And more importantly, you'll know that you never need to compromise your choices to manage their discomfort.


    1:59 Selfish in the Right Way

    3:41 The Validator

    5:28 The Includer

    7:02 The Traditionalist

    8:49 The Host

    10:10 The Controller

    11:32 Make No Mean No

    13:02 Compassion Without Compromise

    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
    https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

    ===
    🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

    ===
    🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
    https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/

    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

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    17 mins
  • 160. Drinks 101: What Are Nootropics?
    Feb 23 2026

    Hi, text me anytime 🤗

    Think coffee is your only pick-me-up? I'm unpacking nootropics—the brain-boosting compounds showing up in your alcohol-free drinks that enhance everything from memory to concentration. From the caffeine in your morning brew to lesser-known ingredients like L-tyrosine and ginkgo biloba, I'll explain what these cognitive enhancers actually do and why you definitely don't want to drink them before bed.

    Go deeper with: ep#69. The Fungi Consultant: Do Functional Mushrooms Work in Low/No Drinks?

    On Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/69-the-fungi-consultant-do-functional-mushrooms-work/id1701338793?i=1000698034459

    On Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ZLJayoZfdzS1775yTaUwJ?si=150266b3fd824799

    On Overcast – https://overcast.fm/+BDZGumjchM

    & Feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101.

    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
    https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

    ===
    🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

    ===
    🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
    https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/

    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

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    5 mins
  • 159. INSIDE THE MINDFUL DRINKING RESET: Can You Really Change Your Drinking in 4 Weeks?
    Feb 18 2026

    Hi, text me anytime 🤗

    Ever wondered what actually goes into making lasting change with your drinking habits, or why some programmes work while others leave you right back where you started? I'm pulling back the curtain on my 4-Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset and showing you exactly what happens inside—from the daily touchpoints to the honest self-assessment that helps people transform their relationship with alcohol without labels, rules, or pressure to quit forever.

    This isn't recovery, it's not a challenge, and it's definitely not just about ticking boxes.

    It's a real-life reset for real-life drinkers navigating the muddle of midlife—the careers, kids, hormones, and social expectations that make moderating feel so challenging.

    I walk you through all four weeks, from unpacking your current habits and setting boundaries without apologising, to managing stress triggers and building sustainable change that lasts.

    Plus, I share honest feedback from students who've discovered why they were really drinking, learned to navigate social pressure, and found freedom in drinking differently on their own terms.

    0:00 A Look Inside The 4-Week Reset

    2:54 Moderation Misconceptions

    6:47 What The Reset Is & Is Not

    9:09 Daily Support

    11:30 Week One: Awareness Is Everything

    15:49 Week Two: Boundaries And Confidence

    16:49 Week Three: Stress, Energy, And Sleep

    19:11 Week Four: Building Your New Normal

    20:27 Real Feedback From Learners

    23:37 How To Join And Get Your Discount


    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
    https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

    ===
    🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

    ===
    🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
    https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/

    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

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    25 mins
  • 158. Drinks 101: What Are Adaptogens?
    Feb 16 2026

    Hi, text me anytime 🤗

    Ever wondered what all those mushroom-infused drinks are actually doing for you? I'm breaking down adaptogens—the ancient herbs, fungi, and botanicals showing up in your favourite alcohol-free drinks—and explaining why ingredients like lion's mane and ashwagandha are becoming the go-to for achieving that sense of ease you once got from alcohol.


    More: ep#94. Lifted: The UK's First High Protein, Alcohol-Free Lager
    On Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/94-lifted-the-uks-first-high-protein-alcohol-free-lager/id1701338793?i=1000711117476

    On Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/6U4FMuCeLp7aOEydLEgqYB?si=pQVuoR-RTXO25-7-HU2JXA

    On Overcast – https://overcast.fm/+BDZGvGrj9s


    & feel free to email me any topics or questions you’d like me to answer for you on another episode of Drinks 101.

    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
    https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

    ===
    🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

    ===
    🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
    https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/

    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

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    4 mins
  • 157. 8 Things I’d Tell You About Mindful Drinking If I Wasn't Afraid to Hurt Your Feelings
    Feb 11 2026

    Hi, text me anytime 🤗

    Today, I'm ditching the kid gloves to share eight brutal truths about changing your drinking habits in midlife that you need to hear.

    From romanticising your wild nights out to waiting for rock bottom before taking action, I’m tackling the stories we tell ourselves that keep us stuck.

    I’ll explore why your social circle might need to shift, why moderation isn't the right path for everyone, and how most online sobriety content completely misses the mark for midlife drinkers.

    This episode also addresses all the elephants in the room. If you're ready for some tough love without the sugar-coating, this one's for you.

    0:00 Why the Tough Love Today

    2:06 Stop Romanticising Your Drinking Past

    3:33 Don’t Wait For Rock Bottom

    4:41 It's Not the Booze, it's Your Social Identity

    7:06 Your Friend Group Will Need to Change

    10:30 Moderation Might Not Be Your Path

    13:28 Impatiently Patient

    15:59 Sober Instagram Isn't For You

    19:22 Some Alcohol-Free Drinks Suck

    21:12 No More Excuses, Start Today

    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
    https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

    ===
    🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

    ===
    🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
    https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/

    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

    Show more Show less
    23 mins
  • 156. Drinks 101: Functional Drinks
    Feb 9 2026

    Hi, text me anytime 🤗

    What actually is a functional drink – and why are they suddenly everywhere in low, no and light?

    I'm kicking off the Drinks 101 mini-sodes with a four-part mini-series exploring functional beverages – drinks designed to do more than just quench your thirst.

    From coffee (the original functional drink) to the adaptogens, nootropics, and CBD-infused options flooding the low/no market, functional drinks have been around for centuries but are now experiencing a serious glow-up.

    I explain how some brands are investing thousands in creating alcohol-free drinks that target your brain's GABA receptors – the same ones that light up when you drink alcohol – to replicate that one or two drink feeling without the booze.

    But do they work for everyone? Does anything?

    If you’re curious but cautious about functional drinks, this episode gives you the grounding you need before we dive deeper into specific ingredients in the episodes to come.

    Dive deeper with: ep#45. 5 New Functional Spirits from Smiling Wolf

    On Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/45-5-new-functional-spirits-from-smiling-wolf/id1701338793?i=1000676998877

    On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/17IVpcbwpPUYuQtDMU6WuC?si=70bb4a1587414f61

    On Overcast - https://overcast.fm/+BDZGsjXgI4

    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
    https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

    ===
    🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

    ===
    🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
    https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/

    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

    Show more Show less
    4 mins
  • 155. Identity Crisis: Does Drinking Less Mean Becoming Less You?
    Feb 4 2026

    Hi, text me anytime 🤗

    When you're changing your drinking habits in midlife, the challenge isn't just about the alcohol itself—it's about the identity you've built around it.

    In today’s episode, I explore the deep-rooted connection between alcohol and how we see ourselves, from the drinks we choose to project confidence to the role booze plays in our closest relationships.

    This tackles the fear that reducing alcohol intake means reducing who you are, and why that's simply not true. I discuss how to reframe identity shifts from loss to growth, recognising that different doesn't mean worse.

    Whether it's the Old Fashioned that made me feel powerful and confident, or the prosecco that signalled your arrival at every party, understanding why we use alcohol to express ourselves is the first step to reclaiming choice without losing who we are.

    1:20 Fear Of Losing Your Self

    3:15 Alcohol & Your Persona

    7:50 Change, Growth, And Evolving Identity

    11:00 Reframing From Loss To Learning

    14:00 4-Week Mindful Drinking Reset And Substack


    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
    https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

    ===
    🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

    ===
    🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
    https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/

    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

    Show more Show less
    17 mins
  • 154. Introducing Drinks 101: Making Low/No Make Sense
    Feb 2 2026

    Hi, text me anytime 🤗

    Choosing low, no and light drinks to support your mindful drinking lifestyle shouldn’t feel like an exam.

    And yet here we are — staring at menus, shelves and online shops trying to work out what *any* of it actually means.

    So this is a quick heads-up episode to introduce *Drinks 101*

    A new short-form mini-series coming to the Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife podcast.

    Rather than replacing our regular Wednesday mindset time together, Drinks 101 will be an extra mini-sode each week where we get practical.

    Each episode will be less than 5 minutes and will focus on one specific thing you keep bumping into when you’re trying to drink differently, such as:

    * What does “de-alcoholised” actually mean?

    * What are functional drinks, adaptogens, and nootropics?

    * Are 0.5 drinks still alcohol-free

    And, of course,

    * Why do alcohol-free drinks cost so much?


    No judgment about when, how or why you drink. Just clear explanations so you can:

    * Order without feeling awkward

    * Buy without second-guessing yourself

    * Choose drinks because they *taste good* — not because you feel you “should”

    Think of Drinks 101 as a reference library you can dip into whenever you need it — especially if you’re new to low, no or light drinking and everything still feels unnecessarily complicated.

    You’ll see these episodes clearly marked in the feed as ‘Drinks 101’.

    Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss them.

    ===
    You can email me at denise@lownodrinkermagazine.com

    ===
    🗣️ Join the growing community on Substack
    https://lownodrinker.substack.com/

    ===
    🌱 Reset the way alcohol shows up in your life with the 4 Week Midlife Mindful Drinking Reset
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/4weekreset

    ===
    🧮 Drinking Impact Calculator: Find your personal tipping point
    https://mindfuldrinkinginmidlife.com/products/drinking-impact-calculator

    ===
    🧐 Take the quiz and find out what's REALLY driving your midlife drinking habits
    https://www.lownodrinker.com/

    ===
    *Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, Low No Drinker may earn a commission. Thank you.

    Show more Show less
    3 mins