Happy Hours, Lonely Nights: Brian’s Naked Life | E777

This Naked Mind Podcast

Annie Grace

Mental Health, Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 2.7K Ratings

🗓️ 21 February 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When was the last time you felt fully present with someone you love? Brian was known as “the happy hour guy” among friends and colleagues. But when his dad passed away at age 57, he began reflecting on his health and how he was living. As his mom’s health declined soon after, he chose to take a break from drinking to be more present with her. That pause led to surprising changes including better sleep, more energy, and improved health. He stayed fully present for his mom when it mattered most. Along the way, he found a version of life that simply felt better. In this episode, Brian joins Annie to discuss navigating two losses, the impact of alcohol on health and wellbeing, and why you don’t need to hit rock bottom to make a change. In this episode, Annie and Brian will discuss: - Drinking in high school and college to socialize - Building a work and social life around happy hour - Using alcohol to cope with boredom and loneliness - Questioning his habits after losing his dad - Noticing alcohol’s impact on health and energy - Changing habits, regaining sleep, health and clarity - Being fully present for his mom’s final years - Grieving his mom without numbing the pain - Finding deeper, more genuine connections - Making healthier choices before hitting rock bottom - Why curiosity, not willpower leads to lasting change - Guiding others toward informed, empowered choices - Overcoming the fears of changing alcohol habits - Creating a happy, healthy, and purposeful life - And other topics… Related Episodes: EP 262: Reader Question – How Do I Deal with Death and Grief Without Alcohol? https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-262-reader-question-grief-without-alcohol/ EP 308: Reader Question – What are the Health Benefits When You Stop Drinking? https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-308-reader-question-what-are-the-health-benefits-when-you-stop-drinking/ EP 362: Reader Question – Will I Ever Have Fun Without Drinking Alcohol? https://thisnakedmind.com/ep-362-reader-question-will-i-ever-have-fun-without-drinking-alcohol/ Ready to take the next step on your journey? Visit https://learn.thisnakedmind.com/podcast-resources for free resources, programs, and more. Until next week, stay curious!

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to This Naked Mind with Annie Grace.
0:14.9	Hi, this is Annie Grace and welcome to This Naked Mind podcast. I'm here with Brian. Hi, Brian. How are you?
0:20.4	Hello, Annie. I am wonderful.
0:22.3	How are you today? I'm good. It's so good to hang out with you and spend this time.
0:27.1	Hear your story. Yeah. Can you take us back to the beginning in your relationship with alcohol?
0:31.8	Where did it all start for you? I can remember back, I don't know what grade it was, but towards the end of elementary school, actually, where I would go over to friends' houses and we would nip their peach snobs.
0:45.3	This is like seventh or eighth grade.
0:47.3	I don't know that we ever got drunk or anything like that, but it started really early, which is interesting.
0:53.0	It was one of those things where we're like, our parents are doing this. Maybe we should try it. And peach snobs was the one thing
0:58.1	we could tolerate without burning our throats. It was weird. I hadn't really thought of that
1:03.9	before. Yeah, that's so interesting. So did you like it? No, I don't think so. I mean,
1:09.7	it tastes terrible, right?
1:12.9	Which is why we were going after the peach stuff.
1:14.6	We're like, well, this has to be the best option.
1:20.9	I remember even my parents, I don't know how old I was when this, but they were having a party. And someone made me like a slow gin fizz or let me take a sip of it.
1:25.9	I don't even know what that is anymore. It looked beautiful.
1:29.4	And the gin is just awful. And gin was one of those things then forever. I could never drink it.
1:34.8	It was so bad. But it's funny, too. I was telling someone the other day, so I spent a lot of time
1:40.4	with my grandparents, they used to take me as a young child down to this bar that they
1:45.5	go to all the time. They'd take this little glass jug to the bar. They'd sit at the bar,
1:50.8	have a couple pints while I would eat these cheese and crackers, and then we'd drive home,
1:56.1	and they'd have their jug in the front seat get home, and they'd finish that off. That's a distinct memory I have.
	...

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